Projects / Programmes
Nitrogen accumulation, incorporation time and residual effects of catch crops
| Code |
Science |
Field |
Subfield |
| 4.03.00 |
Biotechnical sciences |
Plant production |
|
| Code |
Science |
Field |
| B000 |
Biomedical sciences |
|
| B006 |
Biomedical sciences |
Agronomics |
nitrogen accumulation, catch crops, soil nitrogen, time of ploughdown
Researchers (6)
Organisations (1)
Abstract
Slovenia has rich water resources. Underground water resources, which are the source of drinking water, are mostly shallow and located in alluvial river valleys. Most of these are agricultural areas with intensive crop production. In 2000, in two thirds of ground water sources at least one substance was found to damage the quality of water. Among these substances, ammonium and nitrite were found very often. Agriculture is one of the sectors contributing to underground water pollution. The cultivation of catch crops during the autumn and mild winter periods as a means to reduce nitrogen losses from upper layers of soils has been the purpose of renewed studies in the last decade. Catch crops mobilise, take up and remineralise considerable amount of nutrients. After ploughdown, nutrients are available for the following main crop. Catch crops should not depress the yield of the following main crop. Because of these an optimal timing of ploughdown should be ensured and nutrient mineralisation dynamics following the incorporation of catch crop should be further investigated. On the basis of these findings to early mineralisation (leaching of nutrients) or to late mineralisation (immobilisation of fertiliser N during the main crop growth) could be prevented. Consequently, the main research aims of the project are: quantification of nitrogen uptake with different catch crops (Lolium multiflorum Lam., Trifolium subterraneum L., Brassica napus L., var napus), ammonum-N and nitrate-N contents dynamic in soil during and after catch crops production, C/N ratios in the yields of catch crops, and effects of the time of ploughdown of the catch crops in spring on the yield of the following crops (maize, sugar beet). Field experiments will be located at three different locations. Catch crops will be sown soon after harvesting of cereals or peas (July). The incorporation of catch crops material (ploughdown) will be done on different dates in spring. Ammonium-N and nitrogen-N content in the soil will be measured at catch crops sowing (July), at the end of growing season (November), at incorporation of catch crops in spring, at sowing of the following crops (April) and fourteen days after the sowing of the following crops. Experiments will be designed, executed and interpreted according to the modern biometry.
