Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-g8jcs Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-23T09:13:47.752Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Studies of the preceding crop effect of ley in ecological agriculture

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  30 October 2009

Artur Granstedt  and
Gärd L-Baeckström
Artur Granstedt*
Affiliation:
Research Professor of Organic Farming and head of the Biodynamic Research Institute, Skilleby, 153 91 Järna, Sweden;
Gärd L-Baeckström
Affiliation:
Research Leader, Kvinnersta Agricultural School, Örebro, Sweden.
*
Corresponding author is Artur Granstedt ([email protected]).
Get access

Abstract

Two field experiments were conducted from 1991 to 1996 on clay soils in central Sweden to provide information for improving soil fertility, minimizing N leaching, and increasing the benefits of ley to subsequent crops in organic farming. The results show that it is possible to calculate the amount of N mineralized during the 2-year period following incorporation of ley-crop residues, based on the proportion of incorporated organic matter stabilized in the more resistant humus fractions (i.e., the humification coefficient, calculated to be 35–40%), C:N ratios of the ley biomass, and ley age (humification appears to be higher in older crop residues). The fractions of potentially mineralizable N that are actually mineralized in the first and second years after ley incorporation vary depending on ley age and botanical composition and climatic conditions.

Keywords

C:N ratiohumification coefficientnitrogen mineralizationsoil fertility
Type
Articles
Information
American Journal of Alternative Agriculture , Volume 15 , Issue 2 , June 2000 , pp. 68 - 78
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2000

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

1.Allison, F.E. 1973. Soil Organic Matter and its Role in Crop Production. Elsevier, Amsterdam, Netherlands.Google Scholar
2.Granstedt, A. 1990. Fallstudier av kväveförsörjning i alternativ odling. (Case studies on the nitrogen supply in alternative farming; in Swedish with English summary.) Ph.D. diss. Alternative Agric. 4. Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Research Committee for Alternative Agriculture, Uppsala.Google Scholar
3.Granstedt, A. 1992. Case studies on the flow and supply of nitrogen in alternative farming in Sweden. I. Skilleby-Farm 1981–1987. Biol. Agric. Hort 9:15–63.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
4.Granstedt, A. 1995. The mobilization and immobilization of soil nitrogen after green manure crops. In Proc. Third International Conference, Soil Management in Sustainable Agriculture, 31 August–4 September 1993. University of London, Wye College, U.K. p. 265–275.Google Scholar
5.Hansson, A.C. 1987. Roots of arable crops: Production, growth dynamics and nitrogen content. Department of Ecology Report 28. Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala.Google Scholar
6.Haynes, R.J. 1986. The decomposition process: Mineralization, immobilization, humus formation and degradation. In Haynes, R.J. (ed.). Mineral Nitrogen in the Plant-Soil System. Academic Press, Orlando, FL. p. 52–126.Google Scholar
7.Honeycutt, C.W., Potaro, L.J., Avila, K.L., and Halteman, W.A.. 1993. Residue quality, loading rate and soil temperature relations with hairy vetch (Vicia villosa Roth) residue carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus mineralization. Biol. Agric. Hort. 9:181–199.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
8.Janssen, B.H. 1996. Nitrogen mineralization in relation to C:N ratio and decomposability of organic material. Plant Soil 181:39–45.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
9.Jansson, S.L. 1986. Markbiologi-växtproduktion-bördighetsstudier. Skörderesterna som bördighetsfaktor. Kungl. Skogsoch Lantbruksakademiens tidskrift 18(suppl.):9–31. Stockholm. (In Swedish with English summary: Soil biology-plant production-soil fertility studies. The crop residues as a component of soil fertility.)Google Scholar
10.Jansson, S.L., and Persson, J.. 1982. Mineralization and immobilization of soil nitrogen. In Stevenson, F.J. (ed.). Nitrogen in Agricultural Soils. Agron. Monogr. 22. American Society of Agronomy, Madison, WI. p. 229–252.Google Scholar
11.Kolenbrander, G.J. 1981. Mineralization of nitrogen as influenced by decomposition rate of soil organic matter. In Diffuse Sources of Water Pollution: Agricultural Activities. Fertilizer and Animal Wastes. ENV/WAY/-82.2. Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, Paris.Google Scholar
12.Müller, M., and Sundman, V.. 1988. The fate of nitrogen (N15) released from different plant materials during decomposition under field conditions. Plant Soil 105:133–139.Google Scholar
13.Persson, J. 1987. Skördenivåernas och skörderestbehandlingens inverkan på den organiska substansen. Kungl. Skogs- och Jordbruksakademiens tidskrift 19(suppl.): 21–28. Stockholm. (In Swedish with English summary: Impact of crop yield level and plant residues on soil organic matter.)Google Scholar
14.Svensk, Standard. 1993. SS 028310. Markundersökningar—Extration och bestämning av fosfor, kalium, magnesium, och natrium ur jord med ammoniumlaktat/ättiksyrelösning (AL-metoden). (In Swedish.)Google Scholar
15.Torstensson, G. 1998. Nitrogen Availability for Crop Uptake and Leaching. Ph.D. diss. Acta Universitatis Agriculturae Sueciae, Agraria 98. Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala.Google Scholar
16.Wivstad, M. 1997. Green-Manure Crops as a Source of Nitrogen in Cropping Systems. Ph.D. diss. Acta Universitatis Agriculturae Sueciae, Agraria 34. Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala.Google Scholar