Title
Conservation Agriculture Practices Increase Potentially Mineralizable Nitrogen: A Meta-Analysis
Campus Units
Agronomy
Document Type
Article
Publication Version
Accepted Manuscript
Publication Date
9-20-2018
Journal or Book Title
Soil Science Society of America Journal
DOI
10.2136/sssaj2017.07.0245
Abstract
Potentially mineralizable nitrogen (PMN) is considered an important indicator of soil health. Cropping systems management can affect PMN. However, the effect size and relationship with crop yield across specific management practices remain uncertain. We conducted a quantitative review to understand how conservation agriculture management practices affect PMN including N fertilizer application, cropping system diversity, and tillage system as well as the relationship of crop yield with PMN. Data were extracted from 43 studies published in peer-reviewed journals, providing 494 paired comparisons of PMN and 26 paired comparisons of PMN and yield across selected crop management practices. In our meta-analysis, the effect size for each management practice was expressed as a response ratio, calculated as PMN or yield for the fertilizer application, high crop diversity, and no-till system to the no-fertilizer, less diverse crop system, and tillage system. On average, N-fertilized cropping systems had greater PMN: compared to no N fertilizer, inorganic N fertilizer had 22%, and manure had 34% higher PMN. Diverse cropping systems also had greater PMN: three or more different crops in rotation had 44% greater PMN than continuous cropping systems; cropping systems with a leguminous cover crop had 211% greater PMN than systems without cover crops. Compared to till systems, no-till systems had 13% higher PMN. Overall, conservation practices consistently increased both PMN and yield; however, the increase in PMN and yield were not correlated. Consistent with the use of PMN as a soil health indicator, this synthesis demonstrates that practices benefiting PMN also benefit yield.
Copyright Owner
Soil Science Society of America
Copyright Date
2018
Language
en
File Format
application/pdf
Recommended Citation
Mahal, Navreet K.; Castellano, Michael J.; and Miguez, Fernando E., "Conservation Agriculture Practices Increase Potentially Mineralizable Nitrogen: A Meta-Analysis" (2018). Agronomy Publications. 527.
https://lib.dr.iastate.edu/agron_pubs/527
Comments
This is a manuscript of an article published as Mahal, Navreet K., Michael J. Castellano, and Fernando E. Miguez. "Conservation Agriculture Practices Increase Potentially Mineralizable Nitrogen: A Meta-Analysis." Soil Science Society of America Journal (2018). doi: 10.2136/sssaj2017.07.0245. Posted with permission.