Abstract
Abstract Leaching of nitrate from the rootzone constitutes a considerable environmental risk in maize cropping. We performed eight field trials in Denmark over three growing seasons to study the effects of undersown cover crops on nitrate leaching from silage maize during and after the maize growing season. Cover crop species were perennial ryegrass, tall fescue, cocksfoot or chicory. Dry matter yield, nitrogen (N) concentration in harvested maize biomass, and nitrate leaching from May to next March were measured. Nitrate leaching from maize without cover crops differed considerably between trials (39–260 kg N ha −1 ), with a mean of 111 kg N ha −1 . Generally, a very limited effect of cover crops on nitrate leaching from maize was found, with a significant reduction (75 kg ha −1 ) only in one treatment (chicory) in one trial. The experiments demonstrated that nitrate leaching can be high in maize cropping, and that under wet, temperate conditions there is a risk of nitrate leaching from maize both during and after the growing season, which undersown cover crops could not effectively prevent. Across all trials and all treatments, nitrate leaching increased significantly and non-linearly with N concentration in the harvested maize biomass, whereas maize dry matter yield decreased, i.e. higher N concentration in the biomass appears to indicate increased risk of leaching without providing any yield benefit. Hence, N supply to maize should be optimized, aiming at reduced nitrate leaching while meeting appropriate levels of biomass N concentration and maintaining yields.
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Claims 8
Claim · model-written summary
Nitrate leaching from silage maize without cover crops differed considerably between trials, from 39 to 260 kg N per hectare.
Zea maysOrganisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e1“Nitrate leaching from maize without cover crops differed considerably between trials (39–260 kg N ha −1 )”
Claim · model-written summary
Mean nitrate leaching from silage maize without cover crops was 111 kg N per hectare.
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e1“with a mean of 111 kg N ha −1”
e2“Nitrate leaching from maize without cover crops”
Claim · model-written summary
Undersown cover crops generally had a very limited effect on nitrate leaching from maize.
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e1“Generally, a very limited effect of cover crops on nitrate leaching from maize was found”
Claim · model-written summary
Undersown chicory significantly reduced nitrate leaching from maize by 75 kg per hectare, in only one trial.
- Treatment
- chicorye1
- Outcome
- nitrate leachinge2
- Direction
- reductione1
- Value
- 75 kg ha −1e1
- Qualifier
- only in one treatment (chicory) in one triale1
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e1“a significant reduction (75 kg ha −1 ) only in one treatment (chicory) in one trial”
e2“cover crops on nitrate leaching from maize”
Claim · model-written summary
Across all trials and treatments, nitrate leaching increased significantly and non-linearly with N concentration in harvested maize biomass.
- Organ / stage
- harvested maize biomasse1
- Compound
- N concentratione1
- Outcome
- nitrate leachinge1
- Direction
- increasede1
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e1“nitrate leaching increased significantly and non-linearly with N concentration in the harvested maize biomass”
Claim · model-written summary
As N concentration in harvested maize biomass rose, maize dry matter yield decreased.
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e1“nitrate leaching increased significantly and non-linearly with N concentration in the harvested maize biomass, whereas maize dry matter yield decreased”
Claim · model-written summary
Under wet, temperate conditions there is a risk of nitrate leaching from maize during and after the growing season that undersown cover crops could not effectively prevent.
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e1“under wet, temperate conditions there is a risk of nitrate leaching from maize both during and after the growing season, which undersown cover crops could not effectively prevent”
Claim · model-written summary
N supply to maize should be optimized to reduce nitrate leaching while keeping appropriate biomass N concentration and yields.
- Outcome
- N supply to maize should be optimizede1
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e1“N supply to maize should be optimized, aiming at reduced nitrate leaching while meeting appropriate levels of biomass N concentration and maintaining yields”
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cover crop · nutrient: content · Zea mays (maize)Positive and negative results
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