The role of crop rotations in optimizing nitrogen use efficiency in organic farming

ebook Burleigh Dodds Series in Agricultural Science

By Dr Lucie Chmelikova

cover image of The role of crop rotations in optimizing nitrogen use efficiency in organic farming

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This chapter reviews how rotations affect nitrogen flows in organic farming. A comprehensive analysis was carried out of 91 temperate field studies published between 1990 and 2020 that included at least one organic production system. Nitrogen (N) input, N output, and final N balance data for the whole crop rotation were collated, and the information utilized for a meta-analysis of nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) of organic farming under different management regimes. The results showed that a net N surplus (i.e. where N inputs exceeded N outputs) was lowest when N outputs increased without additional N inputs by avoiding over-fertilization, including legumes in crop rotations, and/or optimizing soil tillage. Both very high and extremely low NUE were found. The NUE decreased with increasing N input. High frequency of cereals decreased NUE, whilst increased use of row crops improved NUE.

The role of crop rotations in optimizing nitrogen use efficiency in organic farming