The Correct Cover Crop Species Integrated with Slurry Can Increase Biomass, Quality and Nitrogen Cycling to Positively Affect Yields in a Subsequent Spring Barley Rotation
Date
2020-11-12
Journal Title
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Publisher
MDPI
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 e ciency
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
o take 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.
Description
Publication history: Accepted - 6 November 2020; Published - 12 November 2020.
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Article
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Keywords
cover crops, slurry management, commercial crop yield, nitrogen accumulation, spring barley, water management, weed management, pot experiment
Citation
Cottney, P., Black, L., White, E. and N. Williams, P. (2020) ‘The Correct Cover Crop Species Integrated with Slurry Can Increase Biomass, Quality and Nitrogen Cycling to Positively Affect Yields in a Subsequent Spring Barley Rotation’, Agronomy. MDPI AG, 10(11), p. 1760. doi: 10.3390/agronomy10111760.