Cover crops for nitrogen loss reductions: functional groups, species identity and traits.
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| Title: | Cover crops for nitrogen loss reductions: functional groups, species identity and traits. |
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| Authors: | Fernandez Pulido, Carlos R.1 (AUTHOR), Rasmussen, Jim1 (AUTHOR), Eriksen, Jørgen1,2 (AUTHOR), Abalos, Diego1,3 (AUTHOR) d.abalos@agro.au.dk |
| Source: | Plant & Soil. Feb2025, Vol. 507 Issue 1, p127-140. 14p. |
| Subjects: | Crop science, Catch crops, Botany, Life sciences, Red clover, Cover crops |
| Abstract: | Purpose: Cover crops can reduce nitrogen (N) leaching, but their potential to reduce N2O emissions has been little studied, and the main traits driving the effects on both N losses remain poorly understood. Methods: We conducted a greenhouse experiment with cover crops of four functional groups, covering a wide range of morphological, architectural, physiological, and biotic traits. We used monocultures of grasses (Lolium perenne, Festuca arundinacea, Avena sativa, Secale cereale), legumes (Trifolium pratense, Vicia sativa), brassicas (Sinapis alba, Raphanus sativus) and forbs (Plantago lanceolata, Chicorium intybus). Results: Cover crops decreased N2O emissions (40%), N leaching (58%), and soil NO3− concentration (60%) compared to bare fallow. Cover crop species identity explained more variation in plant N uptake, N losses and soil inorganic N than cover crop functional groups. Individual traits such as N2-fixation in legumes, specific leaf area or specific root length, were generally weakly related to N losses. However, a combination of above- and below-ground traits linked to high biomass production, and therefore stimulating N and water uptake rates, were better predictors of N loss reductions. R. sativus had the lowest N leaching and N2O emissions. Brassicas and plantain can release metabolites affecting N-cycling enzymatic activities, but we did not observe these effects. Conclusion: Our results indicate that selecting cover crops to reduce N losses based on functional groups can be misleading due to large within-group trait variation. Instead, the best choice should be based on species-specific suites of traits and on high root N uptake. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
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| Database: | Engineering Source |
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| Abstract: | Purpose: Cover crops can reduce nitrogen (N) leaching, but their potential to reduce N2O emissions has been little studied, and the main traits driving the effects on both N losses remain poorly understood. Methods: We conducted a greenhouse experiment with cover crops of four functional groups, covering a wide range of morphological, architectural, physiological, and biotic traits. We used monocultures of grasses (Lolium perenne, Festuca arundinacea, Avena sativa, Secale cereale), legumes (Trifolium pratense, Vicia sativa), brassicas (Sinapis alba, Raphanus sativus) and forbs (Plantago lanceolata, Chicorium intybus). Results: Cover crops decreased N2O emissions (40%), N leaching (58%), and soil NO3− concentration (60%) compared to bare fallow. Cover crop species identity explained more variation in plant N uptake, N losses and soil inorganic N than cover crop functional groups. Individual traits such as N2-fixation in legumes, specific leaf area or specific root length, were generally weakly related to N losses. However, a combination of above- and below-ground traits linked to high biomass production, and therefore stimulating N and water uptake rates, were better predictors of N loss reductions. R. sativus had the lowest N leaching and N2O emissions. Brassicas and plantain can release metabolites affecting N-cycling enzymatic activities, but we did not observe these effects. Conclusion: Our results indicate that selecting cover crops to reduce N losses based on functional groups can be misleading due to large within-group trait variation. Instead, the best choice should be based on species-specific suites of traits and on high root N uptake. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
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| ISSN: | 0032079X |
| DOI: | 10.1007/s11104-023-05895-x |
