Summary
This field experiment evaluated the effects of replacing winter fallow with legume (vetch) and non-legume (barley) cover crops on greenhouse gas emissions in an irrigated maize system under Mediterranean conditions with integrated soil fertility management (ISFM). Although cover crops increased N₂O emissions during the intercrop period (1.6–2.6 times relative to fallow), ISFM-adjusted nitrogen fertilisation resulted in similar cumulative N₂O emissions across all treatments at harvest, with low overall emissions (0.57–0.75 kg N₂O-N ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹) and yield-scaled values (3–6 g N₂O-N kg aboveground N uptake⁻¹). The findings suggest that cover crops combined with ISFM can maintain agronomic efficiency by reducing synthetic nitrogen requirements without increasing cumulative or yield-scaled nitrous oxide losses.
UK applicability
These findings are potentially relevant to UK arable systems, though Mediterranean conditions (soil type, temperature, moisture regimes) may differ substantially from cooler, wetter UK climates. The integration of cover crops with precision nitrogen management principles demonstrated here could inform UK practice, but field validation under Atlantic maritime conditions would be warranted before broad recommendations.
Key measures
Cumulative N₂O emissions (kg N₂O-N ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹), yield-scaled N₂O emissions (g N₂O-N kg aboveground N uptake⁻¹), CH₄ and CO₂ fluxes, maize N uptake, soil mineral N concentrations, soil temperature and moisture, dissolved organic carbon (DOC)
Outcomes reported
The study measured cumulative and yield-scaled nitrous oxide emissions, methane and carbon dioxide fluxes, maize nitrogen uptake, and soil mineral nitrogen concentrations across treatments with winter fallow, vetch cover crop, and barley cover crop under Mediterranean conditions. Results showed that cover crops increased N₂O emissions during the intercrop period but similar cumulative emissions to fallow when combined with integrated soil fertility management.
Topic tags
Dig deeper with Pulse AI.
Pulse AI has read the whole catalogue. Ask about this record, its theme, or how the findings apply to UK farming and policy — every answer cites the underlying studies.