Making the most of soil nitrogen

S. Roderick; Steve P. Cuttle; S. Briggs; David J. Hatch; M. A. Shepherd; G. Goodlass; John A. King

Making the most of soil nitrogen

S. Roderick, Steve P. Cuttle, S. Briggs, David J. Hatch, M. A. Shepherd, G. Goodlass, John A. King

Department of Life Sciences

Institute of Grassland and Environmental Research

Research output: Contribution to conference › Paper

Abstract

Optimising the amount of nitrogen captured by fertility building crops is essential for successful organic farming. This study used a combination of literature review, empirical measurements, model development and farmer participation to produce improved guidelines on making the most of soil nitrogen for organic farmers and growers. The main field experiment examined the impact of cutting and mulching on the build up of soil nitrogen. Recommendations to organic farmers from this part of the work, are that cutting and removing herbage during the fertility building phase promotes the highest amount of nitrogen fixation. However the highest soil residues occurred when clover was mulched in situ. Application of organic manures to legumes should also be avoided if the maximum amount of atmospheric N is to be fixed. The fi ndings from the study have been made available in a Guidelines Booklet.

Original language	English
Pages	18-20
Number of pages	3
Publication status	Published - 2006

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@conference{5f6e4ed2e0654b95924f70e9120fbd75,

title = "Making the most of soil nitrogen",

abstract = "Optimising the amount of nitrogen captured by fertility building crops is essential for successful organic farming. This study used a combination of literature review, empirical measurements, model development and farmer participation to produce improved guidelines on making the most of soil nitrogen for organic farmers and growers. The main field experiment examined the impact of cutting and mulching on the build up of soil nitrogen. Recommendations to organic farmers from this part of the work, are that cutting and removing herbage during the fertility building phase promotes the highest amount of nitrogen fixation. However the highest soil residues occurred when clover was mulched in situ. Application of organic manures to legumes should also be avoided if the maximum amount of atmospheric N is to be fixed. The fi ndings from the study have been made available in a Guidelines Booklet.",

author = "S. Roderick and Cuttle, {Steve P.} and S. Briggs and Hatch, {David J.} and Shepherd, {M. A.} and G. Goodlass and King, {John A.}",

note = "Goodlass, G., Hatch, D. J., Shepherd, M. A., King, J. A., Cuttle, S. P., Roderick, S., Briggs, S. (2006). Making the most of soil nitrogen. Aspects of Applied Biology, in conjunction with COR - the Colloquium of Organic Researchers Conference, Edinburgh Conference Centre, Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh, 18-20 September 2006, Atkinson, C., Ball, B., Davies, D. H. K., Rees, R., Russell, G., Stockdale, E. A., Watson, C. A., Walker, R., Younie, D. (Eds), Aspects of Applied Biology 79, What will organic farming deliver? 269-271 .",

year = "2006",

language = "English",

pages = "18--20",

}

TY - CONF

T1 - Making the most of soil nitrogen

AU - Roderick, S.

AU - Cuttle, Steve P.

AU - Briggs, S.

AU - Hatch, David J.

AU - Shepherd, M. A.

AU - Goodlass, G.

AU - King, John A.

N1 - Goodlass, G., Hatch, D. J., Shepherd, M. A., King, J. A., Cuttle, S. P., Roderick, S., Briggs, S. (2006). Making the most of soil nitrogen. Aspects of Applied Biology, in conjunction with COR - the Colloquium of Organic Researchers Conference, Edinburgh Conference Centre, Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh, 18-20 September 2006, Atkinson, C., Ball, B., Davies, D. H. K., Rees, R., Russell, G., Stockdale, E. A., Watson, C. A., Walker, R., Younie, D. (Eds), Aspects of Applied Biology 79, What will organic farming deliver? 269-271 .

PY - 2006

Y1 - 2006

N2 - Optimising the amount of nitrogen captured by fertility building crops is essential for successful organic farming. This study used a combination of literature review, empirical measurements, model development and farmer participation to produce improved guidelines on making the most of soil nitrogen for organic farmers and growers. The main field experiment examined the impact of cutting and mulching on the build up of soil nitrogen. Recommendations to organic farmers from this part of the work, are that cutting and removing herbage during the fertility building phase promotes the highest amount of nitrogen fixation. However the highest soil residues occurred when clover was mulched in situ. Application of organic manures to legumes should also be avoided if the maximum amount of atmospheric N is to be fixed. The fi ndings from the study have been made available in a Guidelines Booklet.

AB - Optimising the amount of nitrogen captured by fertility building crops is essential for successful organic farming. This study used a combination of literature review, empirical measurements, model development and farmer participation to produce improved guidelines on making the most of soil nitrogen for organic farmers and growers. The main field experiment examined the impact of cutting and mulching on the build up of soil nitrogen. Recommendations to organic farmers from this part of the work, are that cutting and removing herbage during the fertility building phase promotes the highest amount of nitrogen fixation. However the highest soil residues occurred when clover was mulched in situ. Application of organic manures to legumes should also be avoided if the maximum amount of atmospheric N is to be fixed. The fi ndings from the study have been made available in a Guidelines Booklet.

M3 - Paper

SP - 18

EP - 20

ER -

Making the most of soil nitrogen

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