Managing Over鈥慦inter N Losses From Green Manures by Altering Residue Incorporation Timing
B. Wallace, D. H. Lynch, D. Burton, A. Bedard-Haughn
Abstract
The loss of N from organic residues can be substantial, yet management alternatives to mineral fertilizers in grain production systems are needed. Synchronizing N supply with plant uptake could be better controlled in organic cropping systems by altering the timing of green manure incorporation. Spring incorporation can slow the soil N supply in areas with short growing seasons, leaving an excess of residual NO3- not taken up by the successive crop. Similarly, mineralization and nitrification can be substantial following early fall incorporation and newly nitrified NO3- has a similar risk for over-winter N loss. As alternatives, red clover incorporation could be performed in fall instead of spring, or fall incorporation could be delayed as late as possible. The objective of this study is to assess fall NO3- from red clover incorporation treatments in response to soil conditions and the implications for environmental N loss as leached NO3- and N2O emissions.
Red clover was grown for two years in an experiment established in Truro, Nova Scotia and then incorporated in September, November, or May (i.e., incorporation treatments). A fourth treatment was also incorporated in November, but above-ground red clover was removed leaving roots and residue to be incorporated. Fall residual mineral N (0-30 cm) was lowest from roots (11.21 kg ha-1) as compared to other treatments (18.68-21.58 kg ha-1). Monthly flow-weighted concentrations of NO3- in drainage water were highest in October when clover was incorporated in September (12.29 mg L-1), while the remaining treatments were not different (6.97-9.69 mg L-1). Cumulative loss of leached NO3- from October to December was 2.06 to 7.98 kg NO3- ha-1, yet there was no difference among treatments. Sample collection and analysis is ongoing and further water and GHG data will be presented.
Source
. October 21- 24, 2012. Cincinnati, OH.
Author Locations and Affiliations
(1) Department of Soil Science, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK, Canada
(2) Nova Scotia Agricultural College, Truro, NS, Canada
(3) Environmental Sciences, Nova Scotia Agricultural College, Truro, NS, Canada
Posted May 2013