Abstract
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 2530-2543 |
| Journal | Global Change Biology |
| Volume | 25 |
| Issue number | 8 |
| Early online date | 7 Apr 2019 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Print publication - Aug 2019 |
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Keywords
- Cover crop
- Catch crop
- N leaching
- Soil organic carbon
- N in grain
- Nitrous oxide emissions
- Net greenhouse gas balance
- Green manure
- Yield
- N content
- Nitrate
- C sequestration
Cite this
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A critical review of the impacts of cover crops on nitrogen leaching, net greenhouse gas balance and crop productivity. / Abdalla, M; Hastings, A; Cheng, Kun; Yue, Q; Chadwick, David; Espenberg, Mikk; Truu, Jaak; Rees, RM; Smith, Pete.
In: Global Change Biology, Vol. 25, No. 8, 08.2019, p. 2530-2543.Research output: Contribution to journal › Review article › Research › peer-review
TY - JOUR
T1 - A critical review of the impacts of cover crops on nitrogen leaching, net greenhouse gas balance and crop productivity
AU - Abdalla, M
AU - Hastings, A
AU - Cheng, Kun
AU - Yue, Q
AU - Chadwick, David
AU - Espenberg, Mikk
AU - Truu, Jaak
AU - Rees, RM
AU - Smith, Pete
PY - 2019/8
Y1 - 2019/8
N2 - Cover crops play an increasingly important role in improving soil quality, reducing agricultural inputs and improving environmental sustainability. The main objectives of this critical global review and systematic analysis were to assess cover crop practices in the context of their impacts on nitrogen leaching, net greenhouse gas balances (NGHGB) and crop productivity. Only studies that investigated the impacts of cover crops and measured one or a combination of: nitrogen leaching, soil organic carbon (SOC), nitrous oxide (N2O), grain yield and nitrogen in grain of primary crop, and had a control treatment were included in the analysis. Long‐term studies were uncommon, with most data coming from studies lasting 2‐3 years. The literature search resulted in 106 studies carried out at 372 sites and covering different countries, climatic zones and management. Our analysis demonstrates that cover crops significantly (p<0.001) decreased N leaching and significantly (p<0.001) increased SOC sequestration without having significant (p>0.05) effects on direct N2O emissions. Cover crops could mitigate the NGHGB by 2.06 ±2.10 Mg CO2‐eq ha−1 y−1. One of the potential disadvantages of cover crops identified was the reduction in grain yield of the primary crop by ≈4%, compared to the control treatment. This drawback could be avoided by selecting mixed cover crops with a range of legumes and non‐legumes, which increased the yield by ≈13%. These advantages of cover crops justify their widespread adoption. However, management practices in relation to cover crops will need to be adapted to specific soil, management and regional climatic conditions.
AB - Cover crops play an increasingly important role in improving soil quality, reducing agricultural inputs and improving environmental sustainability. The main objectives of this critical global review and systematic analysis were to assess cover crop practices in the context of their impacts on nitrogen leaching, net greenhouse gas balances (NGHGB) and crop productivity. Only studies that investigated the impacts of cover crops and measured one or a combination of: nitrogen leaching, soil organic carbon (SOC), nitrous oxide (N2O), grain yield and nitrogen in grain of primary crop, and had a control treatment were included in the analysis. Long‐term studies were uncommon, with most data coming from studies lasting 2‐3 years. The literature search resulted in 106 studies carried out at 372 sites and covering different countries, climatic zones and management. Our analysis demonstrates that cover crops significantly (p<0.001) decreased N leaching and significantly (p<0.001) increased SOC sequestration without having significant (p>0.05) effects on direct N2O emissions. Cover crops could mitigate the NGHGB by 2.06 ±2.10 Mg CO2‐eq ha−1 y−1. One of the potential disadvantages of cover crops identified was the reduction in grain yield of the primary crop by ≈4%, compared to the control treatment. This drawback could be avoided by selecting mixed cover crops with a range of legumes and non‐legumes, which increased the yield by ≈13%. These advantages of cover crops justify their widespread adoption. However, management practices in relation to cover crops will need to be adapted to specific soil, management and regional climatic conditions.
KW - Cover crop
KW - Catch crop
KW - N leaching
KW - Soil organic carbon
KW - N in grain
KW - Nitrous oxide emissions
KW - Net greenhouse gas balance
KW - Green manure
KW - Yield
KW - N content
KW - Nitrate
KW - C sequestration
U2 - 10.1111/gcb.14644
DO - 10.1111/gcb.14644
M3 - Review article
VL - 25
SP - 2530
EP - 2543
JO - Global Change Biology
JF - Global Change Biology
SN - 1354-1013
IS - 8
ER -