Effect of catch crop, straw management and fertilisation on the productivity of field pea and winter wheat crop sequence

Abstract

The present study aimed to determine the effect of catch crop, straw management and mineral fertilisation on the grain yield and chemical composition of field pea (Pisum sativum L.) and winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) on a clay loam (Endocalcari Endohypogleyic Cambisol) (siltic, drainic). The following crop sequence was studied: spring barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) + white mustard (Sinapis alba L.) as a catch crop or without it → semi leafless field pea → winter wheat. The following management practices were applied: the straw of barley was either removed from the field or retained (chopped and spread); white mustard as a catch crop was incorporated into the soil. Different fertilisation levels were investigated: unfertilised, sustainable and intensive. The retention of barley straw (+N 30 ) resulted in significantly higher soil mineral nitrogen (SMN) content (on average 13.8%) in spring. Negative significant interaction of white mustard cultivation and fertilisation on SMN content in the soil was determined. The decrease in SMN and N-NO 3 resulted in better formation of pea yield components and grain yield. The highest crude protein content was detected in the pea grain, when white mustard mass had been incorporated into the soil and barley straw had been removed from the field. During the second year, white mustard cultivation, straw application as fertiliser and mineral fertilisation had a significant positive effect on SMN content. Winter wheat grain yield was significantly increased by white mustard cultivation (on average 4.9%) and mineral fertilisation (sustainable fertilisation -55.3%, intensive fertilisation -64.5%). Increased fertilisation intensity gave an increase in winter wheat grain crude protein content but smaller amounts of PK in grain. The retention of straw resulted in significant increase in grain crude protein content in sustainable fertilisation treatments, but in decrease in grain PK content in all fertilisation treatments. A positive effect of white mustard was found on grain phosphorus (P) accumulation but negative effect on grain potassium (K) accumulation.

Cover Crop Yield, Nutrient Storage and Release under Different Cropping Technologies in the Sustainable Agrosystems

“…The use of the previous year’s spring barley straw (+N) significantly increased the content of SMN by 13.8% on average, compared to the soil without straw. In the treatment with WM, the use of mineral fertilizers reduced the content of SMN, while after applying sustainable fertilizing, the decrease was significant [ 34 ]. This is likely due to microbial N immobilisation [ 23 ].…”

“…The literature presents different data on the effect of CC biomass on yield; increases of 14% [ 14 ], 7.9–22% [ 40 ], or 4.9% [ 34 ]. Ruark et al [ 41 ] stated that Brassicaceae (radish) as a cover crop can result in neutral, negative, and positive effects on the subsequent crop yield.…”

The Content and Stratification of SOC and Its Humified Fractions Using Different Soil Tillage and Inter-Cropping

“…In Lithuania, over the past two decades, the cultivation of various inter-crops has increased significantly. Some studies conducted by Lithuania show that in fertile soils, it is best to grow clover as inter-crops in crop rotations of cereals [41]. Red clover produces up to 8.5 t/ha of biomass in a favorable year of growth and takes 60% of the accumulated nitrogen from the atmosphere.…”

Change of Plant Nutrients in Soil and Spring Barley Depending on the Field Pea Management as a Catch Crop

“…The results that have been presented in this respect to date are ambiguous. In the study of Arlauskiené and Maikšténiené [41], there was no effect of the application of catch crops on the soil total N content, while Navas et al [42] found a highly significant and positive effect of catch crops on this nutrient. As was presented by Berntsen at al.…”