Abstract
The aim of this study is to identify species of cover crops that cause an increase in biomass and total nutrient accumulation in response to manure/slurry. This could improve nutrient efficiency and intensify the benefits from over-winter cover crops in arable rotations and improve following commercial crop yields. In a pot experiment, sixteen cover crops were grown for 100 days in response to slurry. Growth and nutrient (N, P, K, Mg and S) accumulation were measured, and then residue was reincorporated into the soil with spring barley (Hodeum vulgare L.) sown and harvested for yield. In response to slurry, tillage radish (Raphanus sativus L.) increased N accumulation by 101% due to a significant increase in biomass and % N (p < 0.05) over its relative control plots. Significant interactions between species and the application of slurry were found in cover crop biomass, cover crop and spring barley nutrient uptake, as well as cover crop carbon accumulation, particularly in the brassica species used. Slurry integrated with cover crops both reduced the cover crop C:N ratio and enhanced nutrient cycling compared to the control when soil mineral nitrogen (SMN) and spring barley crop N offtake were pooled. However, this was not observed in the legumes. This study shows that slurry integration with cover crops is a promising sustainable farming practice to sequester N and other macro-nutrients whilst providing a range of synergistic benefits to spring barley production when compared to unplanted/fallow land rotations. However, this advantage is subject to use of responsive cover crop species identified in this study.
Highlights
Biomass production was significantly different between species (p < 0.001), and was affected by the addition of slurry (p < 0.05)
Slurry led to significant increases in biomass of the forage rye (Secale cereale L.), oilseed radish, forage rape (Brassica napus L.), brown mustard (Brassica juncea L.) and the tillage radish by 106%, 83%, 82%, 65% and 35%, respectively (Table 5)
This study provides evidence that the integration of the correct species of cover crops could positively contribute to mitigating against weather extremes
Summary
An estimated 33% of soils are degraded [1]. In response, a global soil partnership was formed to converge both policy and research to identify and integrate pillars of action and priorities.Cover crops were identified to have considerable potential to address such priorities by both enhancing and stabilising stores of soil organic matter and reducing the use of nitrogen (N) and phosphorous (P) [1]. An estimated 33% of soils are degraded [1]. A global soil partnership was formed to converge both policy and research to identify and integrate pillars of action and priorities. Cover crops were identified to have considerable potential to address such priorities by both enhancing and stabilising stores of soil organic matter and reducing the use of nitrogen (N) and phosphorous (P) [1]. There is increasing evidence that cover crops can provide weed, pest and disease control [2–6]. Harnessing the benefits from cover crops, for both soil and commercial crops, is highly dependent on species choice and management [10] and both quantity and quality of the biomass produced [11]. Maximising the biomass of cover crops is desirable as it has been
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