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Organic Supplemental Nitrogen Sources for Field Corn Production after a Hairy Vetch Cover Crop

J. Spargo,M. Cavigelli,S. Mirsky,J. Meisinger,V. Ackroyd

Published 2016 in Agronomy Journal

ABSTRACT

Agronomy Journa l • Volume 108 , I s sue 5 • 2016 Soil fertility management on organic farms relies on an integrated strategy of building long-term soil N pools while managing short-term N dynamics (Lawson et al., 2012). Annual or perennial legumes and animal manures are the most important N inputs used to achieve these goals. However, adequate information on sustainable nutrient management practices in organic systems is lacking for many areas of the United States, especially the mid-Atlantic region. As a result, one of the greatest challenges to achieving equivalent yields between organic and conventional grain cropping systems sustainably, especially during organic transition and early years, is supplying adequate plant-available soil N (Cavigelli et al., 2008). Additional challenges in more mature systems include providing N in synchrony with plant needs, balancing P inputs and removals, and maintaining low residual soil nitrate-N at the end of the season (Cavigelli et al., 2013; Lawson et al., 2012, 2015). One of the most suitable green manures for organic crop production in the mid-Atlantic region is hairy vetch (Vicia villosa Roth), a winter annual legume that is widely adapted to most areas of the eastern United States (Clark, 2007). Hairy vetch has a low C/N ratio (usually 10:1 to 15:1) that results in rapid biomass decomposition, with the majority of N mineralization occurring within the fi rst 4 to 8 wk aft er termination in the spring (Poff enbarger et al., 2015a; Ranells and Wagger, 1996; Wagger, 1989). It can produce more than 150 kg ha−1 total N when planting and termination dates are optimized (Decker et al., 1994; Teasdale et al., 2004, 2012). However, only 30 to 60% of N accumulated by a hairy vetch cover crop is typically available to a succeeding corn (Zea mays L.) crop (Clark et al., 2007a, 2007b; Seo et al., 2006), oft en leaving a portion of corn N demands unsatisfi ed. Th erefore, to achieve optimum corn yields in organic systems, the N supplied by hairy vetch usually needs to be supplemented by other approved N sources. Common N sources approved for use in organic systems include animal byproducts, such as feather meal, fi sh meal, Organic Supplemental Nitrogen Sources for Field Corn Production after a Hairy Vetch Cover Crop

PUBLICATION RECORD

  • Publication year

    2016

  • Venue

    Agronomy Journal

  • Publication date

    2016-09-01

  • Fields of study

    Agricultural and Food Sciences, Environmental Science

  • Identifiers
    DOI 10.2134/AGRONJ2015.0485
  • External record

    Open on Semantic Scholar

  • Source metadata

    Semantic Scholar

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