Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

High retention of N P nutrients, soil organic carbon, and fine particles by cover crops under tropical climate

  • Research Article
  • Published:
Agronomy for Sustainable Development Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Soil and water conservation is a major challenge for the development of sustainable agriculture. Leaching and runoff of soil nutrients and fine particles negatively impact soil fertility, soil quality, and contribute to surface water eutrophication and sediment accumulation. Such issues are especially critical in a tropical or subtropical region, such as in south Florida with high rainfall and shallow aquifer. So far, little is known about soil particle and nutrient retention by cover cropping under contrasting rainfall intensity. Here, a pot experiment was conducted with four cover crops and two simulated rainfall rates, a low rate of 5.8 mm day−1 and a high rate of 11.6 mm day−1, to study the transport of N, P, and fine soil particles down the soil profile. The cover crops were sunn hemp, velvetbean, cowpea, and sorghum sudangrass in contrast to weedy fallow as a control. Results show that under low rainfall rate, total N in leachates of 0.5–1.9 kg ha−1 for cover crops was much lower than 10.2 kg ha−1 for fallow. Under high rainfall rate, total N in leachates ranged from 3.4 to 16.1 kg ha−1 for cover crops and 8.8 kg ha−1 for fallow. Cover cropping with sunn hemp was the most effective at retaining soil nutrients because of its large plant biomass production. Indeed sunn hemp biomass accumulated 376 and 247 kg N ha−1 and 27 and 22 kg P ha−1 under high and low rainfall rates. We also found that soil organic carbon associated with fine soil particles in the root zone under sunn hemp and sorghum sudangrass was 5–7% greater than soil organic carbon in fallow. This study demonstrates that growing sunn hemp and sorghum sudangrass cover crops can conserve soil fine particles and nutrients against leaching and reduce adverse impacts on surface water.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Bowman RA (1998) A reevaluation of the chromic acid colorimetric procedure for soil organic carbon. Comm Soil Sci Plant Anal 29:501–508

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Brandi-Dohrn FM, Dick RP, Hess M, Kauffman SM, Hemphill DD Jr, Selker JS (1997) Nitrate leaching under a cereal rye cover crop. J Environ Qual 26:181–188

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bui EN, Box JE Jr (1992) Stemflow, rain throughfall, and erosion under canopies of corn and sorghum. Soil Sci Soc Am J 56:242–247

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cambardella CA, Elliott ET (1992) Particulate soil organic matter changes across a grassland cultivation sequence. Soil Sci Soc Am J 56:777–783

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Campbell CA, Lafond GP, Zentner RP, Jame W (1994) Nitrate leaching in Udic Haploboroll as influenced by fertilization and legumes. J Environ Qual 23:195–201

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Causarano H, Franzluebbers AJ, Shaw JN, Reeves DW, Raper RL, Wood CW (2008) Soil organic carbon fractions and aggregation in the southern Piedmont and coastal plain. Soil Sci Soc Am J 72:221–230

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Clark AJ, Decker AM, Meisinger JJ, Mulford FR, Mclntosh MS (1995) Hairy vetch kill date effects on soil water and corn production. Agron J 87:579–585

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dorsch RKS, McMichael AJ, Bighurst PA, Dyer KJ (1984) Congenital malformations and maternal drinking water supply in rural South Australia: a case study. Am J Epidemiol 119:473–486

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ebelhar SA, Frye WW, Blevins RL (1984) Nitrogen from legume cover crops for no-till corn. Agron J 76:51–55

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hallberg GR (1989) Nitrate in groundwater in the United States. In: Follett RF (ed) Nitrogen management and groundwater protection. Elsevier, Amsterdam, pp 35–75

    Google Scholar 

  • Hansen EM, Djurhuus J (1997) Nitrate leaching as influenced by soil tillage and catch crop. Soil Tillage Res 41:203–219

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hansen EM, Djurhuus J, Kristensen K (2000) Nitrate leaching as affected by introduction or discontinuation of cover crop use. J Environ Qual 29:1110–1116

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Holderbaum JF, Decker AM, Meisinger JJ, Mulford FR, Vough LR (1990) Fall-seeded legume cover crops for no tillage corn in the humid ease. Agron J 82:193–211

    Google Scholar 

  • Karlen DL, Doran JW (1991) Cover crop management effects on soybean and corn growth and nitrogen dynamics in an on-farm study. Am J Altern Agric 6:71–82

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kuo S, Jellum EJ, Sainju UM (1995) The effect of winter cover cropping on soil and water quality. Proc Western Nutrient Mgt Conf, Salt Lake City, UT, pp 56–64

    Google Scholar 

  • Levia DF Jr, Frost EE (2003) A review and evaluation of stemflow literature in the hydrologic and biogeochemical cycles of forested and agricultural ecosystems. J Hydrol 274:1–29

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Linville KW, Smith GE (1971) Nitrate content of soil cores from corn plots after repeated nitrogen fertilization. Soil Sci 112:249–255

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Martinez J, Guiraud G (1990) A lysimeter study of the effects of a ryegrass catch crop, during a winter wheat/maize rotation, on nitrate leaching and on the following crop. J Soil Sci 41:5–16

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • McCracken DV, Smith MS, Grove JH, MacKown CT, Blevins RL (1994) Nitrate leaching as influenced by cover cropping and nitrogen source. Soil Sci Soc Am J 58:1476–1483

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McVay KA, Radcliffe DE, Hargrove WH (1989) Winter legume effects on soil properties and nitrogen fertilizer requirements. Soil Sci Soc Am J 53:1856–1862

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Meisinger JJ, Hargrove WL, Mikkelson RL Jr, Williams JR, Benson VW (1991) Effects of cover crops on groundwater quality. In: Hargrove WL (ed) Cover crops for clean water. Soil Water Conserv. Soc, Ankeny, IA, pp 57–68

    Google Scholar 

  • Miller MH, Beauchamp EG, Lauzon JD (1994) Leaching of nitrogen and phosphorus from the biomass of three cover crop species. J Environ Qual 23:267–272

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Miller MH, Vyn TJ, Stewart GA, Lauzon JD, Raudra R (1992) The use of cover crops for nutrient conservation. Rapport final PAMPA, no. 42. Ontario, Canada.

  • Miller WP, Miller DM (1987) A micro-pipette method for soil mechanical analysis. Comm Soil Sci Plant Anal 18:1–15

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Nielsen EG, Lee LK (1987) The management and costs of groundwater contamination from agricultural chemicals: a national perspective. Agric. Econ. Rep. 576. USDA Econ. Res. Serv. Washington, D.C.

  • Plante AF, Conant RT, Stewart CE, Paustian K, Six J (2006) Impact of soil texture on the distribution of soil organic matter in physical and chemical fractions. Soil Sci Soc Am J 70:287–296

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Power JF, Doran JW (1988) Role of crop residue management in nitrogen cycling and use. In: Hargrove W.L. et al. (eds.) Cropping strategies for efficient use of water and nitrogen. ASA Spec. Publ. 51. ASA, CSSA, and SSSA, Madison, WI, pp. 103–113.

  • Sainju UM, Singh BP, Wayne FW, Wang S (2006) Carbon supply and storage in tilled and nontilled soils as influenced by cover crops and nitrogen fertilization. J Environ Qual 35:1507–1517

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • SAS Institute (2004) SAS, version 9.1.3. Cary, NC

  • Schreiber JD, McDowell LL (1985) Leaching of nitrogen, phosphorus, and organic carbon from wheat straw residues: I. rainfall intensity. J Environ Qual 14:251–256

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Six J, Elliott ET, Paustian K (2000) Soil macroaggregate turnover and microaggregate formation: a mechanism for C sequestration under no-tillage agriculture. Soil Bio Biochem 32:2099–2103

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • US EPA (1993) Methods for chemical analysis of water and wastes. Environ. Monit. Support Lab, Cincinnati, OH

    Google Scholar 

  • USDA (1996) Soil survey of Dade County area. USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, Florida

    Google Scholar 

  • Wang D, Anderson DW (1998) Direct measurement of organic carbon content in soils by the Leco CR-12 carbon analyzer. Comm Soil Sci Plant Anal 29:15–21

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wang Q, Li Y, Klassen W (2005) Influence of summer cover crops on conservation of soil water and nutrients in a subtropical area. J Soil Water Conserv 60:58–63

    Google Scholar 

  • Wang Q, Klassen W, Li Y, Codallo M (2009) Cover crops and organic mulch to improve tomato yields and soil fertility. Agron J 101:345–351

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wang Q, Li Y, Klassen W, Handoo Z (2007) Influence of cover crops and soil organic amendments on okra (Abelmoschus esculentus L.) production and soil nematodes. Renew Agric Food Syst 22:41–53

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wang Q, Bryan HH, Abdul-Baki AA, Klassen W, Li Y, Codallo M (2003a) Improved tomato production with summer cover crops and reduced irrigation rates. Proc Fla State Hort Soc 115:202–207

    Google Scholar 

  • Wang Q, Li Y, Klassen W (2003b) Effect of soil amendments at a heavy loading rate associated with cover crops as green manures on the leaching of nutrients and heavy metals from a calcareous soil. J Environ Sci Health B 38:865–881

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Wang Q, Li Y, Wang Y (2010) Optimizing the weight loss-on-ignition methodology to quantify organic and carbonate carbon of sediments from diverse sources. Environ Monit Assess. doi:10.1007/s10661-010-1454-z

  • White EM (1973) Water leachable nutrients from frozen or dried prairie vegetation. J Environ Qual 2:104–107

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

The research was supported by Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, the Florida Agricultural Experiment Station, and by a cooperative agreement with the USDA-ARS.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Tropical Research and Education Center, and Soil and Water Science Department, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida, 18905 SW 280 ST, Homestead, FL, 33031, USA

    Qingren Wang, Yuncong Li & Waldemar Klassen

  2. USDA, ARS, Vegetable and Forage Crops Research, 24106 North Bunn Road, Prosser, WA, 99350, USA

    Ashok Alva

Authors
  1. Qingren Wang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Yuncong Li
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Waldemar Klassen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Ashok Alva
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Qingren Wang.

About this article

Cite this article

Wang, Q., Li, Y., Klassen, W. et al. High retention of N P nutrients, soil organic carbon, and fine particles by cover crops under tropical climate. Agron. Sustain. Dev. 32, 781–790 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13593-011-0054-9

Download citation

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13593-011-0054-9

Keywords

Search

Navigation