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ARS Home » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #171730
Title: MICROBIAL TRANSFORMATIONS AND RECOVERY OF COVER CROP N IN AN IRRIGATED POTATO CROPPING SYSTEM

Author
item Collins, Harold
item DELGADO, JORGE - WASHINGTON STATE UNIV
item Alva, Ashok

Submitted to: American Society of Agronomy Abstracts
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 7/20/2004
Publication Date: 7/20/2004
Citation: Collins, H.P., Delgado, J., Alva, A.K. 2004. Microbial transformations and recovery of cover crop n in an irrigated potato cropping system. ASA-CSSA-SSSA Annual Meeting, Seattle, WA., Oct. 31-Nov. 4, 2004 (On CD).

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Cover crops play a vital role in filling gaps in crop rotations where soil is left bare and provide protective mulches in conservation tillage systems. Benefits of cover crops include sequestering excess soil nitrogen, replenishing soil organic matter reserves, increasing the size and activity of the soil micro flora, as well as enhancing microbial populations antagonistic to pathogenic organisms. Field trials were conducted to identify the transformations of 15N fertilizer through a mustard cover crop within a potato production system. The recovery of fertilizer N applied to Brassica cover crop was 60%, with the remaining found in various soil N pools. Following harvest 11% of the fertilizer N applied to the cover crop was present in the vines and tubers of the potato crop.