Title:
The Effect of Vicia Faba as a Cover Crop on Biomass Production and N-Use of Sorghum and Maize on Poor Sandy Soils
Author(s):
Beslemes, D.F., Danalatos, N.G., Efthimiadis, P.
Document(s):
Paper
Abstract:
A field experiment was undertaken at an infertile sandy soil in central Greece to determine the effect of Vicia faba as a winter crop (incorporated or harvested before the sowing of the energy crop), on maize and fibre sorghum biomass production, nitrogen recovery fraction and nitrogen utilization efficiency (NUE). A factorial combination of four nitrogen application rates and three legume treatments were tested in a split plot design in three blocks. The results showed a substantial importance of the legume winter crop, as sorghum total dry biomass yield fluctuated from 18.1 to 22.1 t/ha for the control plots, from 22 to 27 t/ha when faba bean was harvested and from 23.1 to 28.1 t/ha when incorporated. Accordingly, corn yield fluctuated from 7.8 to 10.2 t/ha for the control plots, and from 9.2 to 12.2 t/ha when faba bean was incorporated. The NUE was about 70 kg/kg and 50 kg/kg for fibre sorghum and maize, respectively. The N recovery fraction was affected by faba bean incorporation slightly (by 10%) in the case of fibre sorghum and even higher (by 20%) in case of maize, reaching satisfactory rates for both energy crops.
Keywords:
biomass, fibre sorghum, maize, nitrogen, crop rotation
Topic:
Biomass Resources
Subtopic:
Energy crops (session 5)
Event:
19th European Biomass Conference and Exhibition
Session:
VP1.3.52
Pages:
703 - 706
ISBN-13:
978-88-89407-55-4
ISBN-10:
88-89407-55-7
Paper DOI:
10.5071/19thEUBCE2011-VP1.3.52
Price:
FREE
