Short-term nitrogen mineralization from warm-season cover crops in organic farming systems

S. O’Connell; W. Shi; J. M. Grossman; G. D. Hoyt; K. L. Fager; N. G. Creamer

doi:10.1007/s11104-015-2594-2

Short-term nitrogen mineralization from warm-season cover crops in organic farming systems

S. O’Connell, W. Shi, J. M. Grossman, G. D. Hoyt, K. L. Fager, N. G. Creamer

Horticultural Science

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24 Scopus citations

Abstract

Background and aims: Further understanding the factors which influence cover crop decomposition is needed to tailor management practices to achieve production and environmental stewardship goals. Methods: Short-term N_min from warm-season cover crops in organic farming systems was assessed with a variety of field and lab-based measures including: residue biochemical composition, extractable inorganic N, ion-exchange resin membranes, potential C_min and N_min. Results: Residue biochemical composition and environmental conditions appeared to be the primary factors affecting short-term N_min in our study. Legume-dominated cover crops demonstrated greater potential N_min than grass cover crops with higher C:N ratios. However even cover crops with C:N ratios >40:1 were predicted to result in mean net N_min rather than immobilization. Sorghum-sudangrass demonstrated a greater ability to moderate nitrate loss from the top 0–15 cm of soil over the fall season compared to the other cover crops evaluated. Conclusions: The difference in potential N_min of low and high C:N ratio cover crops was not as appreciable as expected. Our data suggests that the microbial community reduced its carbon use efficiency (CUE) due to suboptimal soil moisture. Further investigation into the impacts of soil moisture on residue decomposition in agroecosystems is needed to better understand and manage short-term C and N cycling.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	353-367
Number of pages	15
Journal	Plant and Soil
Volume	396
Issue number	1-2
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-015-2594-2
State	Published - Nov 1 2015

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
We would like to thank the Southern Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education program (SSARE) and the Organic Crop Improvement Association (OCIA) for their generous financial support. We also would like to thank NCDA/CEFS experiment station, the NCSU soil analytical lab and statistician Joy Smith for invaluable assistance, and multiple anonymous reviewers for their valuable input.

Publisher Copyright:
© 2015, Springer International Publishing Switzerland.

Keywords

Carbon use efficiency
Drought
Green manure
Nitrogen mineralization
Organic farming
Residue decomposition

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

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abstract = "Background and aims: Further understanding the factors which influence cover crop decomposition is needed to tailor management practices to achieve production and environmental stewardship goals. Methods: Short-term Nmin from warm-season cover crops in organic farming systems was assessed with a variety of field and lab-based measures including: residue biochemical composition, extractable inorganic N, ion-exchange resin membranes, potential Cmin and Nmin. Results: Residue biochemical composition and environmental conditions appeared to be the primary factors affecting short-term Nmin in our study. Legume-dominated cover crops demonstrated greater potential Nmin than grass cover crops with higher C:N ratios. However even cover crops with C:N ratios >40:1 were predicted to result in mean net Nmin rather than immobilization. Sorghum-sudangrass demonstrated a greater ability to moderate nitrate loss from the top 0–15 cm of soil over the fall season compared to the other cover crops evaluated. Conclusions: The difference in potential Nmin of low and high C:N ratio cover crops was not as appreciable as expected. Our data suggests that the microbial community reduced its carbon use efficiency (CUE) due to suboptimal soil moisture. Further investigation into the impacts of soil moisture on residue decomposition in agroecosystems is needed to better understand and manage short-term C and N cycling.",

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AU - Hoyt, G. D.

AU - Fager, K. L.

AU - Creamer, N. G.

N1 - Funding Information: We would like to thank the Southern Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education program (SSARE) and the Organic Crop Improvement Association (OCIA) for their generous financial support. We also would like to thank NCDA/CEFS experiment station, the NCSU soil analytical lab and statistician Joy Smith for invaluable assistance, and multiple anonymous reviewers for their valuable input. Publisher Copyright: © 2015, Springer International Publishing Switzerland.

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N2 - Background and aims: Further understanding the factors which influence cover crop decomposition is needed to tailor management practices to achieve production and environmental stewardship goals. Methods: Short-term Nmin from warm-season cover crops in organic farming systems was assessed with a variety of field and lab-based measures including: residue biochemical composition, extractable inorganic N, ion-exchange resin membranes, potential Cmin and Nmin. Results: Residue biochemical composition and environmental conditions appeared to be the primary factors affecting short-term Nmin in our study. Legume-dominated cover crops demonstrated greater potential Nmin than grass cover crops with higher C:N ratios. However even cover crops with C:N ratios >40:1 were predicted to result in mean net Nmin rather than immobilization. Sorghum-sudangrass demonstrated a greater ability to moderate nitrate loss from the top 0–15 cm of soil over the fall season compared to the other cover crops evaluated. Conclusions: The difference in potential Nmin of low and high C:N ratio cover crops was not as appreciable as expected. Our data suggests that the microbial community reduced its carbon use efficiency (CUE) due to suboptimal soil moisture. Further investigation into the impacts of soil moisture on residue decomposition in agroecosystems is needed to better understand and manage short-term C and N cycling.

AB - Background and aims: Further understanding the factors which influence cover crop decomposition is needed to tailor management practices to achieve production and environmental stewardship goals. Methods: Short-term Nmin from warm-season cover crops in organic farming systems was assessed with a variety of field and lab-based measures including: residue biochemical composition, extractable inorganic N, ion-exchange resin membranes, potential Cmin and Nmin. Results: Residue biochemical composition and environmental conditions appeared to be the primary factors affecting short-term Nmin in our study. Legume-dominated cover crops demonstrated greater potential Nmin than grass cover crops with higher C:N ratios. However even cover crops with C:N ratios >40:1 were predicted to result in mean net Nmin rather than immobilization. Sorghum-sudangrass demonstrated a greater ability to moderate nitrate loss from the top 0–15 cm of soil over the fall season compared to the other cover crops evaluated. Conclusions: The difference in potential Nmin of low and high C:N ratio cover crops was not as appreciable as expected. Our data suggests that the microbial community reduced its carbon use efficiency (CUE) due to suboptimal soil moisture. Further investigation into the impacts of soil moisture on residue decomposition in agroecosystems is needed to better understand and manage short-term C and N cycling.

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Short-term nitrogen mineralization from warm-season cover crops in organic farming systems

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Keywords

UN SDGs

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