Summary
This final report from ADAS, produced in January 2024, presents findings from the NiCCs project investigating the nitrogen release potential of cover crops in UK arable systems. The work aimed to quantify how much nitrogen, fixed or accumulated by cover crops, becomes available to a following cash crop and over what timescale, informing decisions on fertiliser replacement value. The findings are intended to support more precise nitrogen management, reduce fertiliser costs, and contribute to environmental goals around nitrogen losses from agriculture.
UK applicability
The study was conducted within a UK context by ADAS, a leading UK agricultural research organisation, making the findings directly applicable to UK arable farming practice, nutrient management planning, and policy frameworks such as the Farming Rules for Water and Sustainable Farming Incentive schemes.
Key measures
Nitrogen release rate (kg N/ha); cover crop biomass nitrogen content (kg N/ha); plant-available nitrogen to subsequent crop; timing of nitrogen mineralisation
Outcomes reported
The report measured the quantity and timing of nitrogen released from a range of cover crop species following incorporation or termination, assessing the availability of that nitrogen to subsequent cash crops. It likely evaluated how cover crop management practices influence nitrogen use efficiency and potential reductions in synthetic fertiliser inputs.
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