Abstract
We tested two methods aimed at providing soil coverage before and after a maize crop, to limit erosion and nitrate leaching. The first method consisted in undersowing a companion crop between maize rows, and leaving this companion crop after maize harvest- The companion crop is sown between seedling emergence and canopy closure of the maize crop. Thirteen species were tested including grasses (rye grass, red and tall fescue, smooth-stalked meadowgrass, common bent, cocksfoot), cereals (rye), legumes (field bean, pea, red clover, lucerne), cruciferae (rape) and phacelia. The technique allowed a fixation of 31 to 42 kg/ha of nitrate nitrogen, according to the species and provided soil cover after harvest of maize. Undersowing a perennial ryegrass (25 and 50 kg/ha seeding rate) reduced soil erosion by 13 and 54 % respectively. Species which can be sown early (to achieve sufficient development before maize canopy closure) and do not compete excessively with maize (to avoid yield losses) appeared preferable. Such a species was red fescue. The use of species such as rape, field bean, pea and smoth-stalked meadowgrass should be avoided. The second method consisted in maize sowing in the residues of a cover crop sown in autumn and destroyed by winter frosts or chemically, according to the species. The cover crop provided soil coverage during the interval between the preceding crop and maize sowing. Direct drilling of maize (no-till or minimum tillage system) in the residues makes this technique especially attractive in erosion sensitive soils. Soil warming up was however slower in early season. Wheat, radish, rye, ryegrass, rye and ryegrass mixture, rape, lucerne, phacelia, triticale and vetch were tested as cover crops. The cover crop must be destroyed early : destruction was easier with a younger crop, risk of competition by survivors was less, and sowing of maize was easier (amount of residues is smaller). Under those conditions only, maize yields were not decreased. Mixture of cover crops, ryegrass and radish appeared to be more difficult to destroy. The effect on the environment was favourable, since 40 to 70 kg/ha of nitrate nitrogen were fixed by the cover crop during the interseason preceding maize sowing. Both techniques had therefore short term favourable effects on the environment since nitrates were incorporated in the companion crop or in the cover crop organic matter. The fate of this organic matter remains however to be taken into account, and the mineral dressings of the following crops must be adjusted. A last technique tested concerned nitrogen fertilizer application : placement and splitting of different forms and different amounts. Side dressing allowed a 35 to 45 kg N/ha reduction of the amount broadcast applied, without yield decrease. This preliminary result remains to be confirmed, however.
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Claims 15
Claim · model-written summary
Undersown companion crops captured 31 to 42 kg/ha nitrate nitrogen and covered soil after maize harvest.
Zea maysNot reportedComparatorDirection
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“The technique allowed a fixation of 31 to 42 kg/ha of nitrate nitrogen, according to the species and provided soil cover after harvest of maize.”
Claim · model-written summary
Undersowing perennial ryegrass at 25 kg/ha reduced soil erosion by 13%.
- Treatment
- Undersowing a perennial ryegrasse0
- Interactor
- perennial ryegrass
Lolium perennee0other - Outcome
- soil erosione0
- Direction
- reducede0
- Value
- 13e0
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Undersowing a perennial ryegrass (25 and 50 kg/ha seeding rate) reduced soil erosion by 13 and 54 % respectively.”
e1“Maize”
Claim · model-written summary
Undersowing perennial ryegrass at 50 kg/ha reduced soil erosion by 54%.
- Treatment
- Undersowing a perennial ryegrasse0
- Interactor
- perennial ryegrassLolium perennee0other
- Outcome
- soil erosione0
- Direction
- reducede0
- Value
- 54 %e0
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Undersowing a perennial ryegrass (25 and 50 kg/ha seeding rate) reduced soil erosion by 13 and 54 % respectively.”
e1“Maize”
Claim · model-written summary
Red fescue appeared preferable as an early sown companion crop with limited maize competition.
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Species which can be sown early (to achieve sufficient development before maize canopy closure) and do not compete excessively with maize (to avoid yield losses) appeared preferable. Such a species was red fescue.”
Claim · model-written summary
Authors advise avoiding rape, field bean, pea and smooth-stalked meadowgrass as undersown species.
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“The use of species such as rape, field bean, pea and smoth-stalked meadowgrass should be avoided.”
e1“Maize”
Claim · model-written summary
Cover crops provided soil coverage before maize sowing.
Not reportedComparatorDirection
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“The cover crop provided soil coverage during the interval between the preceding crop and maize sowing.”
Claim · model-written summary
Cover crop residues slowed early-season soil warming.
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Soil warming up was however slower in early season.”
e1“maize sowing in the residues of a cover crop”
Claim · model-written summary
Younger cover crops were easier to destroy.
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“destruction was easier with a younger crop”
e1“maize sowing in the residues of a cover crop”
Claim · model-written summary
Earlier cover crop destruction reduced surviving crop competition.
- Treatment
- cover crop must be destroyed earlye0
- Outcome
- risk of competition by survivorse0
- Direction
- lesse0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“The cover crop must be destroyed early : destruction was easier with a younger crop, risk of competition by survivors was less, and sowing of maize was easier”
Claim · model-written summary
Earlier cover crop destruction eased maize sowing.
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“The cover crop must be destroyed early : destruction was easier with a younger crop, risk of competition by survivors was less, and sowing of maize was easier”
Claim · model-written summary
With early cover crop destruction, maize yields did not decrease.
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Under those conditions only, maize yields were not decreased.”
e1“The cover crop must be destroyed early”
Claim · model-written summary
Mixed ryegrass and radish cover crops were harder to destroy.
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Mixture of cover crops, ryegrass and radish appeared to be more difficult to destroy.”
e1“Maize”
Claim · model-written summary
Cover crops captured 40 to 70 kg/ha nitrate nitrogen between crops.
Not reportedComparatorDirection
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“40 to 70 kg/ha of nitrate nitrogen were fixed by the cover crop during the interseason preceding maize sowing”
Claim · model-written summary
The authors advise adjusting subsequent mineral fertilizer dressings for cover crop organic matter.
- Outcome
- mineral dressings of the following crops must be adjustede0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“the mineral dressings of the following crops must be adjusted.”
e1“Maize”
Claim · model-written summary
Side dressing allowed 35 to 45 kg N/ha less broadcast nitrogen without reduced yield, provisionally.
- Treatment
- Side dressinge0
- Outcome
- amount broadcast appliede0
- Direction
- reductione0
- Value
- 35 to 45 kg N/hae0
- Qualifier
- preliminary result remains to be confirmede0
- Comparator
- broadcast appliede0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Side dressing allowed a 35 to 45 kg N/ha reduction of the amount broadcast applied, without yield decrease. This preliminary result remains to be confirmed, however.”
e1“Maize”
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See all 222 papers →Claims are grouped by organism, treatment and what was measured or targeted. A paper counts as positive when any of its claims in the group is positive.