Summary
This Mediterranean field experiment evaluated the effect of replacing winter fallow with legume (vetch) or non-legume (barley) cover crops on greenhouse gas emissions in a maize cropping system under integrated soil fertility management. Although cover crops increased N₂O emissions during the intercrop period, combined application with adjusted synthetic nitrogen rates resulted in similar cumulative N₂O emissions to fallow at harvest, suggesting that cover crops can be integrated without penalty to climate outcomes when nitrogen management is optimised. The study demonstrates that both legume and non-legume cover crops can reduce synthetic nitrogen requirements whilst maintaining low yield-scaled emissions.
UK applicability
The findings may have limited direct applicability to UK conditions, as the study was conducted under Mediterranean climate with specific pedo-climatic characteristics; however, the integrated soil fertility management approach and the demonstration that cover crops need not increase cumulative N₂O emissions when nitrogen fertilisation is adjusted could inform UK arable farming practices, particularly in regions with similar drainage and temperature profiles.
Key measures
Cumulative N₂O emissions (kg N₂O-N ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹), yield-scaled N₂O emissions (g N₂O-N kg⁻¹ aboveground N uptake), soil mineral N concentrations, maize N uptake, soil temperature and moisture, dissolved organic carbon, CH₄ and CO₂ fluxes, N surplus
Outcomes reported
The study measured cumulative and yield-scaled nitrous oxide emissions, soil mineral nitrogen concentrations, maize nitrogen uptake, and methane and carbon dioxide fluxes across winter fallow and cover crop treatments under integrated soil fertility management. Cover crops (vetch and barley) increased N₂O emissions during the intercrop period but did not increase cumulative emissions when combined with adjusted synthetic nitrogen fertilisation.
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