VAHEKULTUURIDE BIOMASSI MOODUSTAMISE JA LÄMMASTIKU SIDUMISE VÕIME NING MÕJU SUVIODRA SAAGILE. (Estonian)

THE EFFECT OF COVER CROPS ON BIOMASS AND NITROGEN ACCUMULATION AND ON SPRING BARLEY YIELD. (English)

Cover crops play an important role in preventing nutrient loss, reducing agricultural inputs, improving soil quality and environmental sustainability. The objectives of the study were to determine the biomass and nitrogen accumulation of cover crops and their effect on the following spring barley (Hordeum vulgare L.). Field trials with cover crop species winter rye (Secale cereale L), winter turnip rape (Brassica rapa spp. oleifera L.), forage radish (Raphanus sativus L. var. longipinnatus), hairy vetch (Vicia villosa Roth), and berseem clover (Trifolium alexandrinum L.) were carried out during four growing seasons (2016/17, 2017/18, 2018/19, and 2019/20) at the Estonian Crop Research Institute (present: The Centre of Estonian Rural Research and Knowledge, METK). Cover crop biomass and N accumulation in autumn and in spring depended on species and growing conditions. The biomass and nitrogen (N) accumulation were at their lowest in the first growing season (2016/17) due to lowest level of effective temperatures. Forage radish accumulated the highest amount of biomass and N in autumn. Berseem clover accumulated lowest amount of biomass and N in the year with drought conditions (2018) before sowing. Among overwintered cover crops, hairy vetch accumulated the highest amount of N in the spring although its biomass was similar to winter turnip rape. Winter rye had the lowest biomass and N accumulation in spring. As an average over the four years, only forage radish and hairy vetch significantly increased the yield of subsequent barley. None of the cover crops had a negative effect on barley, as the yield level following other species was similar to the control without cover crop. The knowledge about cover crop selection is useful to integrate suitable species into Estonian cropping systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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