HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Quemada, M. Articles by Cabrera, M. L. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by Quemada, M. Articles by Cabrera, M. L. Agricola Articles by Quemada, M. Articles by Cabrera, M. L.

Carbon and Nitrogen Mineralized from Leaves and Stems of Four Cover Crops

Dep. of Crop and Soil Sciences

M. L. Cabrera

Dep. of Crop and Soil Sciences and Inst. of Ecology, Univ. of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602

* Corresponding author ( mquemada{at}uga.cc.uga.edu).

ABSTRACT

Increased understanding of surface residue decomposition may improve cover crop management in no-till systems. Most decomposition studies of cover crop residues have been conducted with samples composed of a mixture of leaves and stems. Because leaves and stems have different composition, however, they would be expected to show different mineralization kinetics. The objective of this work was to study C and N mineralization from isolated stems, isolated leaves, and a mix of leaves and stems of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), rye (Secale cereale L.) oat (Avena sativa L.), and crimson clover (Trifolium incarnatum L.). Cecil loamy sand soil (clayey, kaolinitic, thermic Typic Kanhapludult) was packed into acrylic plastic cylinders, adjusted to 55% water-filled porosity, treated with either leaves, stems, or a mix of both (1-cm pieces) on the surface, and incubated at 35°C for 160 d. Air samples for CO₂ and N₂O determinations were taken periodically and NH₃ evolved was trapped during the first 16 d. Soil columns were leached periodically and leachates were analyzed for N (total and inorganic) and total C. The dynamics of C and N mineralization of a mix of leaves and stems was different from the patterns predicted from isolated leaves and isolated stems. These results indicate a strong interaction between stems and leaves during early stages of decomposition, which may be relevant for predicting N mineralization from cover crop residues. The best predictors for N mineralization were residue C/N ratio and the reciprocal of residue N concentration.

Received for publication May 23, 1994.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				V. Parnaudeau, B. Nicolardot, and J. Pages Relevance of Organic Matter Fractions as Predictors of Wastewater Sludge Mineralization in Soil J. Environ. Qual., September 1, 2004; 33(5): 1885 - 1894. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. T. Moraghan, A. L. Sims, and L. J. Smith Sugarbeet Growth as Affected by Wheat Residues and Nitrogen Fertilization Agron. J., November 1, 2003; 95(6): 1560 - 1565. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. L. Ruffo and G. A. Bollero Modeling Rye and Hairy Vetch Residue Decomposition as a Function of Degree-Days and Decomposition-Days Agron. J., July 1, 2003; 95(4): 900 - 907. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. L. Ruffo and G. A. Bollero Residue Decomposition and Prediction of Carbon and Nitrogen Release Rates Based on Biochemical Fractions Using Principal-Component Regression Agron. J., July 1, 2003; 95(4): 1034 - 1040. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				T. L. Weinert, W. L. Pan, M. R. Moneymaker, G. S. Santo, and R. G. Stevens Nitrogen Recycling by Nonleguminous Winter Cover Crops to Reduce Leaching in Potato Rotations Agron. J., March 1, 2002; 94(2): 365 - 372. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				I. Trinsoutrot, S. Recous, B. Bentz, M. Linères, D. Chèneby, and B. Nicolardot Biochemical Quality of Crop Residues and Carbon and Nitrogen Mineralization Kinetics under Nonlimiting Nitrogen Conditions Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J., May 1, 2000; 64(3): 918 - 926. [Abstract] [Full Text]