Publication Date:
2019
Description:
Abstract
A field experiment with separately tile‐drained plots was used to study the ability of oilseed radish (Rhaphanus sativus L.), as a cover crop sown after harvest of a main crop of cereals or peas, to reduce nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) leaching losses from a clay loam in southern Sweden over six years. In addition to oilseed radish in pure stand, two cover crop mixtures (hairy vetch (Vicia villosa) and rye (Secale cereale) for three years and oilseed radish in mixture with buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum) for two years) were tested. The cover crop plots (three replicates per treatment) were compared with unplanted plots as a control.
Plots cropped with oilseed radish during autumn (August‐November) had significantly smaller yearly mean N concentration in drainage water over five of six years compared with unplanted controls. Mineral N content in the soil profile in autumn was significantly less in oilseed radish plots than for control plots in all years. The cover crop mixtures of hairy vetch and rye or buckwheat and oilseed radish also showed the potential to reduce soil mineral N in autumn and N concentration in drainage water, compared with unplanted controls. The cover crops had no impact on P leaching. In conclusion, oilseed radish has the ability to reduce leaching losses of N, without increasing the risk of P leaching.
Print ISSN:
0266-0032
Electronic ISSN:
1475-2743
Topics:
Geosciences
,
Agriculture, Forestry, Horticulture, Fishery, Domestic Science, Nutrition
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