N release pattern from green manures can be modified through species composition

Abstract

This study examined whether the N release pattern during decomposition of plant materials used as green manures can be modified in the short term through mixing plant materials with different levels of easily degradable compounds. In a lysimeter study, white clover shoots were mixed with perennial ryegrass shoots or chicory roots. Leaching of clover N was decreased more by inclusion of chicory than by ryegrass. However, decreased leaching losses over the non-growing season did not lead to enhanced N uptake by the crop during the following growing season.

Keywords:

• Chicory
• lysimeter
• N immobilization
• N leaching
• N mineralization
• perennial ryegrass
• plant N uptake
• white clover

Acknowledgements

We gratefully acknowledge the research programme FOOD21, which provided the funding for the project. We also thank SLU laboratory staff for technical assistance.