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Reduction of Nitrogen Fertilizer Requirements and Nitrous Oxide Emissions Using Legume Cover Crops in a No-Tillage Sorghum Production System

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  • G. Y. Mahama

    (Department of Agronomy, 2004 Throckmorton Plant Science Center, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS 66506, USA
    Council for Scientific and Industrial Research–Savanna Agricultural Research Institute, P.O. Box 494 Wa, Ghana)

  • P. V. V. Prasad

    (Department of Agronomy, 2004 Throckmorton Plant Science Center, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS 66506, USA)

  • K. L. Roozeboom

    (Department of Agronomy, 2004 Throckmorton Plant Science Center, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS 66506, USA)

  • J. B. Nippert

    (Division of Biology, 116 Ackert Hall, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS 66506, USA)

  • C. W. Rice

    (Department of Agronomy, 2004 Throckmorton Plant Science Center, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS 66506, USA)

Abstract

Nitrous oxide (N 2 O) emission from denitrification in agricultural soils often increases with nitrogen (N) fertilizer and soil nitrate (NO 3 − ) concentrations. Our hypothesis is that legume cover crops can improve efficiency of N fertilizer and can decrease N 2 O emissions compared to non–cover crop systems. The objectives of this study were to (a) evaluate the performance of summer leguminous cover crops in terms of N uptake and carbon (C) accumulation following winter wheat and (b) to quantify the effects of summer leguminous cover crops and N fertilizer rates on N 2 O emissions and grain yield of the subsequent grain sorghum crop. Field experiments were conducted in the context of a wheat-sorghum rotation for two seasons in Kansas. Treatments consisted of double-cropped leguminous cover crops following winter wheat harvest with no fertilizer applied to the following grain sorghum or no cover crop after wheat harvest and N fertilizer rates applied to the grain sorghum. The cover crops were cowpea ( Vigna unguiculata L. Walp.), pigeon pea ( Cajanus cajan L. Millsp.), and sunn hemp ( Crotalaria juncea L.). The three N treatments (were 0, 90, and 180 kg·N·ha −1 ). Fallow systems with 90 and 180 kg·N·ha −1 produced significantly greater N 2 O emissions compared with cropping systems that received no N fertilizer. Emissions of N 2 O were similar for various cover crops and fallow systems with 0 kg·N·ha −1 . Among cover crops, pigeon pea and cowpea had greater C accumulation and N uptake than sunn hemp. Grain yield of sorghum following different cover crops was similar and significantly higher than fallow systems with 0 kg·N·ha −1 . Although fallow systems with 90 and 180 kg·N·ha −1 produced maximum sorghum grain yields, N 2 O emissions per unit of grain yield decreased as the amount of N fertilizer was reduced. We conclude that including leguminous cover crops can decrease N fertilizer requirements for a subsequent sorghum crop, potentially reducing N 2 O emissions per unit grain yield and providing options for adaptation to and mitigation of climate change.

Suggested Citation

  • G. Y. Mahama & P. V. V. Prasad & K. L. Roozeboom & J. B. Nippert & C. W. Rice, 2020. "Reduction of Nitrogen Fertilizer Requirements and Nitrous Oxide Emissions Using Legume Cover Crops in a No-Tillage Sorghum Production System," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(11), pages 1-18, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:12:y:2020:i:11:p:4403-:d:363894
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Dave S. Reay & Eric A. Davidson & Keith A. Smith & Pete Smith & Jerry M. Melillo & Frank Dentener & Paul J. Crutzen, 2012. "Global agriculture and nitrous oxide emissions," Nature Climate Change, Nature, vol. 2(6), pages 410-416, June.
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    1. Mathijs Harmsen & Charlotte Tabak & Lena Höglund-Isaksson & Florian Humpenöder & Pallav Purohit & Detlef Vuuren, 2023. "Uncertainty in non-CO2 greenhouse gas mitigation contributes to ambiguity in global climate policy feasibility," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-14, December.
    2. Yuan Li & Gang Wang & Narasinha J. Shurpali & Yuying Shen, 2022. "Nitrogen Addition Affects Nitrous Oxide Emissions of Rainfed Lucerne Grassland," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(13), pages 1-13, June.
    3. Vagner do Nascimento & Orivaldo Arf & Marlene Cristina Alves & Epitácio José de Souza & Paulo Ricardo Teodoro da Silva & Flávio Hiroshi Kaneko & Arshad Jalal & Carlos Eduardo da Silva Oliveira & Miche, 2022. "Mechanical Chiseling and the Cover Crop Effect on the Common Bean Yield in the Brazilian Cerrado," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 12(5), pages 1-14, April.

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