The aim of this research was to investigate the effect of different green manures and their combination with cattle manure on weeds, crop yields and soil properties in five-field crop rotation experiment of three different organic cropping systems

Eremeev, Viacheslav

Luik, Anne

Reintam, Endla

Sanchez de Cima, Diego

Talgre, Liina

Tein, Berit

Organic Eprints

                          Description 5-years crop rotation (winter wheat, pea, potato, barley us. red clover, red clover) experiment in 3 cropping systems (started in 2008, modified in 2011). Block scheme. • Org. 0 → follows crop rotation (CR); • Org. I → CR+ green manure (GM) catch crops; • Org. II →  CR+GM+composted cattle manure – winter wheat 10 t/ha, potato 20 t/ha, barley 10 t/ha (in spring). Green manures: ryegrass after winter wheat, winter oilseed rape after pea, winter rye after potato, red clover Each system in 4 replications = 60 plots  Each plot = 60 m2 Site: Eerika experimental field (58 22'N, 26 40'E) near to Tartu, Estonia Climate: Precipitation 591 mm/y Mean annual temperature 4.4 (+30…-30)  C Soil: sandy loam Albic Stagnic Luvisol Experimental place and design Berit Tein, Viacheslav Eremeev, Endla Reintam, Liina Talgre, Diego Sánchez de Cima, Anne Luik Estonian University of Life Sciences (EULS), Tartu, Estonia. Contact e-mail: anne.luik@emu.ee  Green manures Main crops Barley Winter wheatMain crop0246810Barley and w. wheat grainyields (14% moist.), t/haaabbaabbOrg. 0 Org. I Org. IICropping system4045505560 FDA hydrolytic activity, μg fluorescein g -1 soil h -1 oven dry soil 2011. Fall 2012. SpringaababcOrg. 0 Org. I Org. IICropping system5.85.96.06.16.26.3Soil pH KClaaaOrg. 0 Org. I Org. IICropping system1.401.451.501.551.601.651.701.75Soil Corg,%aabOrg. 0 Org. I Org. IICropping system0.1250.1300.1350.1400.1450.1500.1550.1600.165Soil Ntot,%aabbStudy aims: The aim of this research was to investigate the effect of different green manures and their combination with cattle manure on weeds, crop yields and soil properties in five-field crop rotation experiment of three different organic cropping systems. Effect of green manures on weeds, crop yields and soil properties in Estonia Results  of  2012 Cattle manure in combination with green manure red clover increased yields significantly (Org. II). Winter rye as a green manure was the best weed suppressor. Cereals as main crops were the best weed suppressors. Green manures and their combination with cattle manure increased the soil microbial activity (Org. I, II). Green manures and their combination with cattle manure had a tendency to increase soil pH (Org. I, II). Green manures increased soil organic carbon and total nitrogen contents (Org. I). NB! Different letters indicate significant differences (Tukey HSD test (P < 0.05)). Vertical bars denote +/- standard errors. EULS, 20120102030405060708090100OilseedrapeRyegrassWinterryeOilseedrapeRyegrassWinterryeOilseedrapeRyegrassWinterryeOrg 0 Org 1 Org 2Total weed dry mass (g m-2)abcaab bccEULS 2012020406080100120140Potato Pea Barley(us)winterwheatPotato Pea Barley(us)winterwheatPotato Pea Barley(us)winterwheatOrg 0 Org 1 Org 2Total weed dry mass (g m-2)a aa aaaabbbbbOrg. 0 Org. I Org. IICropping system9095100105110Plant available P, mg/kg a aaOrg. 0 Org. I Org. IICropping system120130140150160Plant available K, mg/kg aaaCattle manure with green manure had a tendency to increase the plant available P and K in soil (Org. II). Conclusions •  Green manures influenced weeds. Winter rye was the best suppressor. Cereals from main crops were also effective in weed suppressing. •  Red clover as geen manure in combination with cattle manure helped to gain significantly higher yields in  winter wheat and barley. • The use of green manures brought tendencies to improve soil quality: increased soil microbial activity, pH, content of nitrogen, organic carbon. Soil water holding capacity and plant available P and K contents also increased in conditions of geen manures combined with cattle manure (Org II). 

Effect of green manures on weeds, crop yields and soil properties in Estonia

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