InterVeg

Enhancing multifunctional benefits of cover crops – vegetable intercroppin

Effects of vertical distribution of soil inorganic nitrogen on root growth and subsequent nitrogen uptake by field vegetable crops

Information is needed about root growth and N uptake of crops under different soil conditions to increase nitrogen use efficiency in horticultural production. The purpose of this study was to investigate if differences in vertical distribution of soil nitrogen (Ninorg) affected root growth and N uptake of a variety of horticultural crops. Two field experiments were performed each over 2 years with shallow or deep placement of soil Ninorg obtained by management of cover crops. Vegetable crops of leek, potato, Chinese cabbage, beetroot, summer squash and white cabbage reached root depths of 0.5, 0.7, 1.3, 1.9, 1.9 and more than 2.4 m, respectively, at harvest, and showed rates of root depth penetration from 0.2 to 1.5 mm day)1 C)1. Shallow placement of soil Ninorg resulted in greater N uptake in the shallow-rooted leek and potato. Deep placement of soil Ninorg resulted in greater rates of root depth penetration in the deep-rooted Chinese cabbage, summer squash and white cabbage, which increased their depth by 0.2–0.4 m. The root frequency was decreased in shallow soil layers (white cabbage) and increased in deep soil layers (Chinese cabbage, summer squash and white cabbage). The influence of vertical distribution of soil Ninorg on root distribution and capacity for depletion of soil Ninorg was much less than the effect of inherent differences between species. Thus, knowledge about differences in root growth between species should be used when designing crop rotations with high N use efficiency

Olieræddike kan optage tabt nitrat fra 2,5 meters dybde

Nye forsøg viser at olieræddike har meget dybe rødder og kan opsamle nitrat fra 2,5 meters dybde. Hvis dybtrodede efterafgrøder placeres strategisk i sædskiftet, har man især på bedre jorder mulighed for at hente væsentlige mængder nitrat fra dybere jordlag

Biochar effect on the mineralization of soil organic matter

The objective of this work was to verify whether the addition of biochar to the soil affects the degradation of litter and of soil organic matter (SOM). In order to investigate the effect of biochar on the mineralization of barley straw, soil was incubated with 14C-labelled barley straw with or without unlabelled biochar. To investigate the effect of straw on the mineralization of biochar, soil was incubated with 14C-labelled biochar with or without straw. In addition, to investigate the effect of biochar on old SOM, a soil labelled by applying labelled straw 40 years ago was incubated with different levels of biochar. All experiments had a control treatment, without any soil amendment. The effect of biochar on the straw mineralization was small and nonsignificant. Without biochar, 48±0.2% of the straw carbon was mineralized within the 451 days of the experiment. In comparison, 45±1.6% of C was mineralized after biochar addition of 1.5 g kg-1. In the SOM-labelled soil, the organic matter mineralized more slowly with the increasing doses of biochar. Biochar addition at 7.7 g kg-1 reduced SOM mineralization from 6.6 to 6.3%, during the experimental period. The addition of 15.5 g kg-1 of biochar reduced the mineralized SOM to 5.7%. There is no evidence of increased degradation of either litter or SOM due to biochar addition; consequently, there is no evidence of decreased stability of SOM

Deep roots of Brassica oleracea have high uptake of 15N-nitrate to 2 meters soil depth

• Deep roots may be important for uptake of NO3- by annual crops. A field experiment with the deep rooted crop curly kale (Brassica oleracea L. convar. acephala (DC.) Alef. var. sabellica L.) was performed to investigate root distribution and N uptake in deep soil layers. • Root distribution was investigated by use of minirhizotrons and root extractions to 2.4 m depth. The capacity for crop N uptake was studied by deep 15NO3- placement followed by analysis of plant 15N content after 3-30 days. • The atom percent 15N excess (APE) of plant samples was of similar size after uptake of 15N placed at depths in the range of 0.4-2 m. Root colonisation and start of 15N uptake were synchronized in 2.4 m depth. • The deep roots had higher inflow of 15N compared to the more shallow roots. Root depth was more important for the ability for NO3- uptake than root abundance. Thus deep roots can be important for N uptake and for reduction of NO3-¬ leaching from annual cropping systems

Root pruning reduces root competition and increases crop growth in a living mulch cropping system

Living mulch systems may decrease pest attacks. However, the below-ground competition from the living mulch may decrease the growth of the cash crop. Here growth of white cabbage in living mulch systems and in pure stands was compared. Root pruning of the living mulch increased the above-ground biomass of white cabbage, with two prunings giving higher cabbage yields than one. Below-ground growth and competition were examined by measuring root distribution in minirhizotrons and uptake of 15N placed at different soil depths. These studies showed that the ability of mulch species to compete for resources at depth was restricted by pruning