Sanchez, J. E., T. C. Willson, K. Kizilkaya, E. Parker, and R. R. Harwood. 2001. Enhancing the mineralizable nitrogen pool through substrate diversity in long-term cropping systems. Soil Science Society of America Journal 65:1442-1447.

The development of sustainable N management systems requires a better understanding of the contribution of on-farm resources to the active N pool size and its mineralization. This study explores the effect of substrate diversity on improving N supply through mineralization. A "diverse system", consisting of a corn (Zea mays L.)-cornsoybean (Glycine max L.)-wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) rotation with cover crops and fertilized with composted manure was compared with a corn monoculture with conventional fertilizers. Nitrogen mineralization was measured in situ and in laboratory incubations as was the ability of each soil to mineralize added compost and red clover (Trifolium pratense) residue in the 6th and 7th yr of rotation. Net mineralized N in the diverse system was 90 and 40% higher than that in the monoculture at 70 and 150 d of laboratory incubations respectively. Comparable response was found in situ where a 70% higher net mineralization was observed in the diverse system at 70 d. The 70 and 150-d mineralizable N pools increased over time, but the ability of soil organisms to break down additional substrate did not change as a result of system diversity. At 150 d of laboratory incubation, a synergistic effect was observed when 5 Mg ha(-1) of compost plus 5 Mg ha (1) of clover was added to either soil. The combination of the two organic materials mineralized more N than the sum of their individual mineralization results. A more diverse cropping system may increase the soil’s capacity to supply N to a growing crop while maintaining desirable levels of soil organic matter. This is essential for the overall long-term productivity and sustainability of agricultural systems.

DOI: 10.2136/sssaj2001.6551442x

Associated Treatment Areas:

Living Field Lab

Download citation to endnote bibtex