Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer (한국토양비료학회지)

Korean Society of Soil Science and Fertilizer (한국토양비료학회)
권호 표지
DOI QR코드

DOI QR Code

Effect of Legume Cover Crops and Nitrogen Fertilization Rates on Yield and Nitrogen Use Efficiency of Waxy Corn (Zea mays L.) in No-Tillage System

  • Choi, Jong-Seo (Department of Central Area Crop Science, NICS, RDA) ;
  • Kim, Min-Tae (Department of Central Area Crop Science, NICS, RDA) ;
  • Ryu, Jin-Hee (Crop Foundation Research Division, NICS, RDA) ;
  • Kim, Kwang Seop (Organic Agriculture Research Institute, Gyeongbuk Agricultural Research & Extension Service) ;
  • Kim, Sook-Jin (Department of Central Area Crop Science, NICS, RDA) ;
  • Park, Ki-Do (Crop Foundation Research Division, NICS, RDA)
  • Received : 2015.10.01
  • Accepted : 2016.10.28
  • Published : 2016.10.31
Download PDF
⟨ Previous Next ⟩

Abstract

The adoption of legume cover crops in no-tillage system can contribute to improve soil fertility by providing several benefits, including reduction in soil erosion, suppression of weed growth and N supply to subsequent crops. We conducted a field study to investigate the effect of cover crops and nitrogen fertilization rates on yield and nitrogen use efficiency of waxy corn (Zea mays L.) in no-tillage upland field. Two legume cover crops, hairy vetch (Vicia villosa Roth) and crimson clover (Trifolium incarnuturn L.) were mechanically terminated with roller in early June. For each cover crop treatment, nitrogen (N) fertilizer was applied at three different rates (145, 72.5 and $0kg\;N\;ha^{-1}$). The growth and yield characteristics of corn were significantly affected by the N fertilization rates in crimson clover plots, which suggest N mineralization from the cover crop residue was not sufficient. In contrast, N fertilization rates had no significant effect on growth and yield of corn in hairy vetch plots, indicating that the amount of N released from the cover crop is large enough to meet most of the N requirement of corn. However, the application of N fertilizer in hairy vetch cover plots resulted in slight increase of crop yield, though not statically significant, and high levels of N concentration in corn plant tissue possibly due to luxury consumption of N. Organic residues on the soil surface in hairy vetch cover plots had substantial amounts of N after harvest, ranging from 100 to $116kg\;N\;ha^{-1}$, which is presumably retained during winter season and released by microbial mineralization in subsequent year. The highest nitrogen yield efficiency was achieved in the plot with hairy vetch cover and no N fertilizer application, followed by the plot with hairy vetch cover and $72.5kg\;N\;ha^{-1}$ fertilization rate. In conclusion, hairy vetch showed better performance in corn productivity as compared with crimson clover. In addition, it was concluded that the application of N fertilizer between 0 and $72.5kg\;N\;ha^{-1}$ in combination with hairy vetch cover crop might be most efficient for corn yield under no-tillage system with climatic and soil characteristics similar to those of the experimental site.

Keywords

References

  1. Acosta, J.A.A., T.J.C. Amado, A. Neergaard, M. Vinther, L.S. Silva, and R.S. Nicoloso. 2011. Effect of $^{15}N$-labeled hairy vetch and nitrogen fertilization on maize nutrition and yield under no-tillage. R. Bras. Ci. Solo. 35:1337-1345. https://doi.org/10.1590/S0100-06832011000400028
  2. Campiglia, E., R. Mancinelli, V.D. Felice, and E. Radicetti. 2014. Long-term residual effects of the management of cover crop biomass on soil nitrogen and yield of endive (Cichorium endivia L.) and savoy cabbage (Brassica oleracea var. sabauda). Soil Tillage Res. 139:1-7. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.still.2014.01.003
  3. Choi, B.S., K.C. Hong, J.K. Sung, J.J. Nam, J.E. Lim, H.Y. Lee, J.E. Yang, and Y.S. Ok. 2009. Incorporation of winter rapeseed (Brassica napus) as green manure on mineralization and uptake of nitrogen to succeeding corn (Zea mays L.). Korean J Organic Agric. 17(3):381-391.
  4. Choi, B.S., C.G. Kim, K.Y. Seong, D.Y. Song, W.T. Jeon, H.S. Cho, K.H. Jeong and U.G. Kang. 2011. Change of weed community in no-till corn with legume cover crops as living mulch. Kor. J. Weed Sci. 31(1):34-40. https://doi.org/10.5660/KJWS.2011.31.1.034
  5. Clark, A.J., A.M. Decker, J.J. Meisinger, F.R. Mulford, and M.S. McIntosh. 1995. Hairy vetch kill date effects on soil water and corn production. Agron. J. 87:579-585. https://doi.org/10.2134/agronj1995.00021962008700030031x
  6. Drinkwater, L.E., M. Shipanski, S.S. Snapp, and L.E. Jackson. 2008. Ecologically based nutrient management, p. 159-208. In: Snapp, S. and B. Pound (ed.). Agricultural systems:Agroecology and rural innovation for development. Academic Press, San Diego, CA, USA.
  7. Fageria, N.K., V.C. Baligar, and B.A. Bailey. 2005. Role of cover crops in improving soil and row crop productivity. Commun. Soil Sci. Plant Anal. 36:2733-2757. https://doi.org/10.1080/00103620500303939
  8. Gang, J.H. 2013. Gangwon-do waxy corn seed industrialization plan. Research Institute for Gangwon. Chuncheon, Korea.
  9. Griffin, T., M. Liebman, and J. Jemison Jr. 2000. Cover crops for sweet corn production in a short-season environment. Agron. J. 92:144-151. https://doi.org/10.2134/agronj2000.921144x
  10. Groffman, P.M., P.F. Hendrix, and D.A. Crossley, Jr. 1987. Nitrogen dynamics in conventional and agroecosystems with inorganic fertilizer inputs. Plant Soil. 97:315-332. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02383222
  11. Jones, C.A. 1983. A survey of the variability in tissue nitrogen and phosphorus concentrations in maize and grain sorghum. Field Crops Res. 6:133-147. https://doi.org/10.1016/0378-4290(83)90053-9
  12. Keller, G.D. and D.B. Mengel. 1986. Ammonia volatilization from nitrogen fertilizers surface applied to no-till corn. Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J. 50:1060-1063. https://doi.org/10.2136/sssaj1986.03615995005000040045x
  13. Kim, E.S., D.H. Kim, D.S. Kang, S.K. Kim, G.M. Shon, and Z.R. Choe. 2004. Studies on tillage method and legume green manure crop cultivation for sustainable production of waxy corn (Zea Mays L.). Gyeongnam Agricultural Research and Extension Services.
  14. Lee, J.T., G.J. Lee, J.S. Ryu, J.S. Kim, K.H. Han, and S.H. Park. 2013. Evaluation of soil loss according to surface covering and tillage methods in corn cultivation. Korean J. Soil Sci. Fert. 46(6):510-518. https://doi.org/10.7745/KJSSF.2013.46.6.510
  15. Lee, M.H. 2003. Response of yield and major characters of waxy corn hybrids under no-tillage practice. Korean J Organic Agric. 11:80-89.
  16. Liu, K. and P. Wiatrak. 2012. Corn production response to tillage and nitrogen application in dry-land environment. Soil Tillage Res. 124:138-143. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.still.2012.05.017
  17. Lupwayi, N.Z., G.W. Clayton, J.T. O'Donovan, K.N. Harker, T.K. Turkington, and Y.K. Soon. 2006. Nitrogen release during decomposition of crop residues under conventional and zero tillage. Can. J. Soil Sci. 86(1):11-19. https://doi.org/10.4141/S05-015
  18. Maltas, A., M. Corbeels, E. Scopel, J. Wery, and F.A.M. da Silva. 2009. Cover crop and nitrogen effects on maize productivity in no-tillage systems of the Brazilian cerrados. Agron. J. 101(5):1036-1046. https://doi.org/10.2134/agronj2009.0055
  19. Maskina, M.S., J.F. Power, J.W. Doran, and W.W. Wilhelm. 1993. Residual effects of no-till crop residues on corn yield and nitrogen uptake. Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J. 57:1555-1560. https://doi.org/10.2136/sssaj1993.03615995005700060027x
  20. Mirsky, S.B., M.R. Ryan, W.S. Curran, J.R. Teasdale, J. Maul, J.T. Spargo, J. Moyer, A.M. Grantham, D. Weber, T.R. Way, and G.G. Camargo. 2012. Conservation tillage issues: Cover crop-based organic rotational no-till grain production in the mid-Atlantic region, USA. Renewable Agriculture and Food Systems 27:31-40. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1742170511000457
  21. Mitchell, R.D.J., R. Harrison, K.J. Russell, and J. Webb. 2000. The effect of crop residue incorporation date on soil inorganic nitrogen, nitrate leaching and nitrogen mineralization. Biol Fertil Soils. 32:294-301. https://doi.org/10.1007/s003740000251
  22. NIAST. 2000. Methods of soil and crop plant analysis. National Institute of Agricultural Science and Technology, RDA, Suwon, Korea
  23. Parr, M., J.M. Grossman, S.C. Reberg-Horton, C. Brinton, and C. Crozier. 2011. Nitrogen delivery from legume cover crops in no-till organic corn production. Agron. J. 103(6):1578-1590. https://doi.org/10.2134/agronj2011.0007
  24. RDA. 2000. Standard farming handbook for corn cultivation. Rural Development Administration, Suwon, Korea.
  25. Reeves, D.W., C.W. Wood, and J.T. Touchton. 1993. Timing nitrogen applications for corn in a winter legume conservationtillage system. Agron. J. 85:98-106. https://doi.org/10.2134/agronj1993.00021962008500010020x
  26. Reeves, D.W. 1994. Cover crops and rotations, p. 125-172. In: Hatfield, J.L and B.A. Stewart. (ed.). Crops residue management. Advances in Soil Science, Lewis Publishers, Boca Raton, FL, USA.
  27. Rice, C.W. and M.S. Smith. 1982. Denitrification in no-till and plowed soils. Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J. 46:1168-1173. https://doi.org/10.2136/sssaj1982.03615995004600060010x
  28. Schomberg, H.H. and M.L. Cabrera. 2001. Modeling in situ N mineralization in conservation tillage fields: comparison of two versions of the CERES nitrogen submodel. Ecol. Model. 145:1-15. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0304-3800(01)00379-9
  29. Schomberg, H.H., D.M. Endale, A. Calegari, R. Peixoto, M. Miyazawa, and M.L. Cabrera. 2006. Influence of cover crops on potential nitrogen availability to succeeding crops in a Southern Piedmont soil. Biol Fertil Soils. 42:299-307. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00374-005-0027-8
  30. Seo, J.H., H.J. Lee., S.J. Kim, and I.B. Hur. 1998. Nitrogen release from hairy vetch (Vicia villosa Roth) residue in relation to different tillages and plant growth stage. Korean J. Soil Sci. Fert. 31(2):137-142.
  31. Seo, J.H. and H.J. Lee. 1998. Study on no-tillage silage corn production with legume hairy vetch (Vicia villosa Roth) cover, II. Change of yield and nitrogen uptake of corn by N fertilizer and hairy vetch cover. J. Korean Grassl. Sci. 18(2):123-128.
  32. Seo, J.H., J.Y. Park, and D.Y. Song. 2005. Effect of cover crop hairy vetch on prevention of soil erosion and reduction of nitrogen fertilization in sloped upland. Korean J. Soil Sci. Fert. 38(3):134-141.
  33. Touchton, J.T., W.A. Gardner, W.L. Hargrove, and R.R. Duncan. 1982. Reseeding crimson clover as a N Source for no-tillage grain sorghum production. Agron. J. 74:283-287. https://doi.org/10.2134/agronj1982.00021962007400020007x
  34. Wagger, M.G. 1989. Time of desiccation effects on plant composition and subsequent nitrogen release from several winter annual cover crops. Agron. J. 81:236-241. https://doi.org/10.2134/agronj1989.00021962008100020020x
  35. Wilson, D.O. and W.L. Hargrove. 1986. Release of nitrogen from crimson clover residue under two tillage systems. Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J. 50:1251-1254. https://doi.org/10.2136/sssaj1986.03615995005000050033x
  36. Yun, S.Y., J.J. Kim, J.W. Yang, Y.S. Jung, and J.D. Choi. 1999. Effect of different cropping system and soil management on soil chemical and microbiological quality assessment in the Daekwanryung upland soil. Korean J. Soil Sci. Fert. 32(3):312-318.
  37. Zougmore, R., F. Nagumo, and A. Hosikawa. 2006. Nutrient uptakes and maize productivity as affected by tillage system and cover crops in a subtropical climate at Ishigaki, Okinawa, Japan. Soil Sci Plant Nutr. 52:509-518. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1747-0765.2006.00067.x