Abstract
Aims: Legume cover crops are primarily grown for their contribution to soil N pools, but the effect that this added N has on cover crop root decomposition and N release is poorly understood. Our primary objective was to determine the effect that soil N and root diameter size have on root decomposition and N release. Methods: We determined coarse (>1-mm diameter) and fine (<1-mm diameter) root distribution for crimson clover (Trifolium incarnatum) and hairy vetch (Vicia villosa Roth) using greenhouse-grown plants, and followed with a 12-week incubation in which coarse and fine roots from both species were incubated under natural and elevated (200 kg ha−1) soil N levels. Results: Crimson clover and hairy vetch consisted primarily of fine roots (≥79 %), which decomposed and released N faster than coarse roots. Soil N addition had a small positive effect on root decomposition, but an inconsistent effect on root N release. There was a net increase in soil inorganic N for all treatments after 12 weeks. Conclusion: These results improved our understanding of decomposition and N release from crimson clover and hairy vetch roots, and are valuable to farmers seeking to better manage soil C and N pools.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 57-68 |
Number of pages | 12 |
Journal | Plant and Soil |
Volume | 393 |
Issue number | 1-2 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Aug 29 2015 |
Bibliographical note
Publisher Copyright:© 2015, Springer International Publishing Switzerland.
Keywords
- Fine and coarse roots
- Legume cover crops
- Nitrogen release
- Root decomposition