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101187
Poster Number 328-425
See more from this Division: ASA Section: Land Management and Conservation
See more from this Session: Cover Crop Management Poster
Tuesday, November 8, 2016
Phoenix Convention Center North, Exhibit Hall CDE
Abstract:
Excess nitrogen (N) to the Chesapeake Bay causes many environmental and human health problems. Agriculture accounts for 42% of N loading to the Bay. Cover crops can help reduce N losses from farms through fall N uptake and decreased soil erosion during the winter months. Recently, forage radish (Raphanus sativus) has emerged as a prime cover crop in the Chesapeake Bay region as it can take up large amounts of residual soil N that may otherwise be lost to leaching in the fall. However, following winter-kill, stored N may also be susceptible to loss. Potentially large amounts of N could be lost via leaching or denitrification following radish decomposition, especially in winter and early spring when no other crops are present to utilize the N. Research is needed to determine how quickly N is released from forage radishes and whether that N is maintained in the soil, lost through leaching, or denitrification. We examined the rate and fate of N in radishes in a growth chamber so that we could create ideal conditions for N uptake and release. A better understanding of the rate and fate of N loss from decomposing radishes can inform on-farm management strategies. Our research will show how best to balance fall N uptake and spring N release from forage radish N to promote yields and reduce environmental harm.
See more from this Division: ASA Section: Land Management and Conservation
See more from this Session: Cover Crop Management Poster