Abstract
Aims
Kura clover living mulch (KCLM) is thought to provide in-season nitrogen (N) to the cash crop. Because of interactions between cropping system and crop performance, the magnitude of in-season N inputs from KCLM cannot be quantified using common N rate research methods. We aim to quantify the timing and magnitude of these N inputs using clover biomass and decomposition data.
Methods
This research measured the temporal distribution of clover biomass with intensive sampling, vertical biomass distribution using bead tracer analysis, and residue decomposition using in situ litter bags. These data were used as inputs to a model that estimated the in-season N contributions from KCLM.
Results
Our results found that spring management contributed 7–23 kg N ha−1 during the first 6 weeks of the growing season, while shade suppression contributed 59 – 84 kg N ha−1 from mid-June to mid-October. Daily N inputs peaked on 8 August at 1.14 kg N ha−1 d−1. When these estimates were added to fertilizer N inputs and analyzed against crop N uptake, we found that the maize took up 88% of the total N inputs and fertilizer recovery efficiency was 56%.
Conclusions
This study provides a methodology which generates estimates that may be used in research related to N cycling and management in KCLM and other legume intercropping systems.
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Data availability
The datasets generated during and/or analysed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.
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Acknowledgements
This project was supported in part by the North Central Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education graduate student grant GNC20-295. The authors would like to thank William Breiter, Scott Mitchell, and Todd Schumacher for their field and laboratory assistance.
Funding
This project was supported in part by the North Central Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education graduate student grant GNC20-295.
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All authors contributed to the study conception and design. Material preparation, data collection and analysis were performed by Jonathan R Alexander. The first draft of the manuscript was written by Jonathan R. Alexander and all authors commented on previous versions of the manuscript.
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Alexander, J.R., Venterea, R.T. & Baker, J.M. Estimating nitrogen inputs from a Kura clover living mulch system for maize production. Plant Soil 493, 237–248 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-023-06226-w
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-023-06226-w