Gross Nitrogen Mineralization and Immobilization in Temperate Maize-Soybean Intercrops

REGEHR, A.; OELBERMANN, M.; VIDELA, C.; ECHARTE, L.

PLANT AND SOIL

SPRINGER

Lugar: Berlin; Año: 2015 vol. 391 p. 353 - 365

0032-079X

Background and aims Reliance on nitrogen (N) fertilizers to maintain crop productivity requires a thorough understanding of the transformation of this nutrient within the soil-plant system. Organic matter input from a mixture of crop residues, such intercrop systems,influence N transformations differently compared to sole crops. We tested the hypothesis that N mineralization and immobilization differ between cereal-legume intercrops and sole crops. Methods A short-term experiment using 15N isotopic pool dilution was conducted in 2007 and 2012 in maize (Zea mays L.) and soybean (Glycine max L. Merr.) sole crops and 1:2 (1 row maize:2 rows soybean) and 2:3 (two rows maize:3 rows soybean) intercrops. Soil characteristics, gross mineralization and immobilization, and net immobilization to a 10 cm depth were quantified.Results Soil characteristics (pH, bulk density, soil organic carbon (C), total N, and C:N) were not significantly different (P<0.05) among treatments, but differed significantly (P<0.05) between years (2007 vs. 2012). Soil NH4+-N was significantly lower(P<0.05) in the maize sole crop. Gross N mineralization, immobilization and net immobilization, were significantly different (P<0.05) among treatments and between years. Relative NH4+-N immobilization was significantly different (P<0.05) among treatments and between years, showing the lowest values in the intercrops. The amount of NH4+-N mineralized per day was significantly greater (P<0.05) in the 2:3 intercropand was significantly different (P<0.05) between years in the 2:3 intercrop. Residence time of NH4+-N was significantly longer (P<0.05) in the soybean sole crop and 1:2 intercrop followed by the 2:3 intercrop and the maize sole crop.Conclusions Intercropping contributed to the long-term immobilization of N and therefore was a more sustainable land-management practice than sole cropping. The adoption of cereal-legume intercrops will curb our currently growing reliance on N fertilizers.