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Influence of soil inorganic nitrogen and root diameter size on legume cover crop root decomposition and nitrogen release

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Abstract

Aims

Legume cover crops are primarily grown for their contribution to soil N pools, but the effect that this added N has on cover crop root decomposition and N release is poorly understood. Our primary objective was to determine the effect that soil N and root diameter size have on root decomposition and N release.

Methods

We determined coarse (>1-mm diameter) and fine (<1-mm diameter) root distribution for crimson clover (Trifolium incarnatum) and hairy vetch (Vicia villosa Roth) using greenhouse-grown plants, and followed with a 12-week incubation in which coarse and fine roots from both species were incubated under natural and elevated (200 kg ha−1) soil N levels.

Results

Crimson clover and hairy vetch consisted primarily of fine roots (≥79 %), which decomposed and released N faster than coarse roots. Soil N addition had a small positive effect on root decomposition, but an inconsistent effect on root N release. There was a net increase in soil inorganic N for all treatments after 12 weeks.

Conclusion

These results improved our understanding of decomposition and N release from crimson clover and hairy vetch roots, and are valuable to farmers seeking to better manage soil C and N pools.

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Acknowledgments

We wish to thank Janet Shurtleff, Dr. Consuelo Arrellano, and North Carolina State University EATS staff for their help with this project.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Soil Science, North Carolina State University, PO Box 7619, Raleigh, NC, 27695, USA

    Arun D. Jani & Thomas J. Smyth

  2. Department of Horticulture, University of Minnesota, 454 Alderman Hall, 1970 Folwell Avenue, St. Paul, MN, 55108, USA

    Julie M. Grossman

  3. Department of Plant Pathology, North Carolina State University, PO Box 7616, Raleigh, NC, 27695, USA

    Shuijin Hu

Authors
  1. Arun D. Jani
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  2. Julie M. Grossman
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  3. Thomas J. Smyth
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  4. Shuijin Hu
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Correspondence to Arun D. Jani.

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Responsible Editor: Martin Weih.

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Jani, A.D., Grossman, J.M., Smyth, T.J. et al. Influence of soil inorganic nitrogen and root diameter size on legume cover crop root decomposition and nitrogen release. Plant Soil 393, 57–68 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-015-2473-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-015-2473-x

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