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How Soil Ecological Intensification by Means of Cover Crops Affects Nitrogen Use Efficiency in Pepper Cultivation

Author

Listed:
  • Roberto Mancinelli

    (Department of Agricultural and Forestry Sciences (DAFNE), University of Tuscia—Via S. Camillo De Lellissnc, 01100 Viterbo, Italy)

  • Rosario Muleo

    (Department of Agricultural and Forestry Sciences (DAFNE), University of Tuscia—Via S. Camillo De Lellissnc, 01100 Viterbo, Italy)

  • Sara Marinari

    (Department for Innovation in Biological, Agro-Food and Forest System (DIBAF), University of Tuscia, Via San Camillo de Lellissnc., 01100 Viterbo, Italy)

  • Emanuele Radicetti

    (Department of Agricultural and Forestry Sciences (DAFNE), University of Tuscia—Via S. Camillo De Lellissnc, 01100 Viterbo, Italy)

Abstract

Ecological intensification, based on agricultural practices that promote ecosystem services, has been recently proposed to match crop yield and environmental concerns. Two-year experiments were conducted in a Mediterranean environment. The treatments were: (i) four intensification levels (common vetch (CV), ryegrass (RG), bare soil without Nitrogen (N) fertilization (Control-N0) and with 100 kg ha −1 of N fertilization (Control-N100) applied during pepper cultivation), and(ii) two soil tillage [soil tillage at 15 cm and 30 cm of soil depth (ST-15 and ST-30, respectively)]. The field experiment was disposed in a randomized block design with three replications. Cover crop, soil samples, and pepper samples were collected for analysis. Soil available nitrogen increased after soil tillage, especially in CV, which showed the highest fruit yield. The reduced soil N availability in RG decreased fruit yield and N uptake. The agro-physiological efficiency of pepper was similar in common vetch and Control-N100, while it was low in ryegrass. However, the adoption of RG increased the soil organic matter more than both control treatments, which, in turn, caused a depletion of soil organic matter. Moreover, reduced tillage practices for green manuring that both cover crops arepreferable to reduce external inputs in terms of fuel saving and farming operations.

Suggested Citation

  • Roberto Mancinelli & Rosario Muleo & Sara Marinari & Emanuele Radicetti, 2019. "How Soil Ecological Intensification by Means of Cover Crops Affects Nitrogen Use Efficiency in Pepper Cultivation," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 9(7), pages 1-12, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jagris:v:9:y:2019:i:7:p:145-:d:246326
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Schipanski, Meagan E. & Barbercheck, Mary & Douglas, Margaret R. & Finney, Denise M. & Haider, Kristin & Kaye, Jason P. & Kemanian, Armen R. & Mortensen, David A. & Ryan, Matthew R. & Tooker, John & W, 2014. "A framework for evaluating ecosystem services provided by cover crops in agroecosystems," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 125(C), pages 12-22.
    2. Bertrand Hirel & Thierry Tétu & Peter J. Lea & Frédéric Dubois, 2011. "Improving Nitrogen Use Efficiency in Crops for Sustainable Agriculture," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 3(9), pages 1-34, September.
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    Cited by:

    1. Md Nafiul Islam & Md Zafar Iqbal & Mohammod Ali & Milon Chowdhury & Md Shaha Nur Kabir & Tusan Park & Yong-Joo Kim & Sun-Ok Chung, 2020. "Kinematic Analysis of a Clamp-Type Picking Device for an Automatic Pepper Transplanter," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 10(12), pages 1-17, December.
    2. Mariano Fracchiolla & Massimiliano Renna & Miriana Durante & Giovanni Mita & Francesco Serio & Eugenio Cazzato, 2021. "Cover Crops and Manure Combined with Commercial Fertilizers Differently Affect Yield and Quality of Processing Tomato ( Solanum lycopersicum L.) Organically Grown in Puglia," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 11(8), pages 1-10, August.
    3. Mohamed Allam & Emanuele Radicetti & Verdiana Petroselli & Roberto Mancinelli, 2021. "Meta-Analysis Approach to Assess the Effects of Soil Tillage and Fertilization Source under Different Cropping Systems," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 11(9), pages 1-16, August.
    4. Dorota Gawęda & Małgorzata Haliniarz & Urszula Bronowicka-Mielniczuk & Justyna Łukasz, 2020. "Weed Infestation and Health of the Soybean Crop Depending on Cropping System and Tillage System," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 10(6), pages 1-20, June.
    5. Jolanta Bojarszczuk & Janusz Podleśny, 2020. "Segetal Diversity in Selected Legume Crops Depending on Soil Tillage," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 10(12), pages 1-14, December.
    6. Mohamed Allam & Emanuele Radicetti & Valentina Quintarelli & Verdiana Petroselli & Sara Marinari & Roberto Mancinelli, 2022. "Influence of Organic and Mineral Fertilizers on Soil Organic Carbon and Crop Productivity under Different Tillage Systems: A Meta-Analysis," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 12(4), pages 1-19, March.
    7. Zakaria Islem Ziche & Giuseppe Natale Mezzapesa & Giovanna Dragonetti & Lea Piscitelli, 2024. "Unveiling the Opportunities of Unexplored Use of Cover Crop in Mediterranean Agriculture through Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(17), pages 1-19, August.
    8. Valentina Quintarelli & Emanuele Radicetti & Enrica Allevato & Silvia Rita Stazi & Ghulam Haider & Zainul Abideen & Safia Bibi & Aftab Jamal & Roberto Mancinelli, 2022. "Cover Crops for Sustainable Cropping Systems: A Review," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 12(12), pages 1-21, December.

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