Premium
Cropping System Effects on Nitrogen Removal, Soil Nitrogen, Aggregate Stability, and Subsequent Corn Grain Yield
Author(s) -
Anderson Irvin C.,
Buxton Dwayne R.,
Karlen Douglas L.,
Cambardella Cynthia
Publication year - 1997
Publication title -
agronomy journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.752
H-Index - 131
eISSN - 1435-0645
pISSN - 0002-1962
DOI - 10.2134/agronj1997.00021962008900060006x
Subject(s) - agronomy , panicum virgatum , perennial plant , sorghum , cropping system , phalaris arundinacea , andropogon , biology , crop , bioenergy , wetland , renewable energy , ecology
Cropping systems can affect soil quality and productivity of subsequent crops. We conducted this study to evaluate effects of several annual and perennial crop species on N removal, residual soil N, aggregate stability, and subsequent corn ( Zea mays L.) production. Thirteen cropping systems were grown with various rates of N fertilizer for 6 yr on a Typic Calciaquoll soil in central Iowa. Perennial plant species were then killed, corn was planted, and half of each plot was fertilized with 224 kg N ha −1 and half was left unfertilized. Plant analyses showed that the perennial C 4 species, switchgrass ( Panicum virgatum L.) and big bluestem ( Andropogon gerardii Vitman var. gerardii ), consistently removed the least N. There was little difference for soil total N, NH 4 ‐N, or NO 3 ‐N concentrations to a depth of 1 m among reed canarygrass ( Phalaris arundinacea L.), switchgrass, sweet sorghum [ Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench], and alfalfa ( Medicago sativa L.). Residual NO 3 ‐N concentrations were higher to a depth of 1 m for subplots fertilized with 280 kg N ha −1 for 6 yr than for plots fertilized with less N. Aggregate stability did not differ following reed canarygrass, switchgrass, sweet sorghum, or alfalfa. Without N during the 7th yr, corn following sweet sorghum produced the lowest yield (7.5 t ha −1 ), whereas the highest yield following a nonlegume crop was for corn after big bluestem (11.8 t ha −1 ). Corn without N following soybean [ Glycine max (L.) Merr.] yielded 11.1 t ha −1 , while that following alfalfa yielded 13.6 t ha −1 . Fertilizer N reduced the rotation effect, but increased profile N with both perennial and annual crops. Corn following reed canarygrass, big bluestem, alfalfa, soybean, and sorghum intercropped into alfalfa had significantly higher yields (14.1, 14.2, 15.7, 14.2, and 15.3 t ha −1 , respectively) than corn following corn (13.0 t ha −1 ). Non‐N rotation effects (those remaining despite applied N) could not be explained by residual soil N or aggregate stability measurements.