Impact of sowing date of maize catch crops on yield and environmental effects – a trade-off?

Bijeenkomst: EGF2015
Auteur: Komainda M., Herrmann A., Kluß C. and Taube F.
ISBN: 978-9090-289-61-8
Jaar van uitgifte: 2015
Producttype: Paper
Regions in northern Germany that are characterised by high livestock/biogas plant density, light sandy soils and extensive silage maize production are facing major challenges with respect to environmental pollution, in particular nitrate leaching. The objective of the current study was to investigate a management strategy, i.e. an optimisation of maize harvest date and catch crop species, for mitigating the environmental pollution risk, based on a 2-year field study. Rye turned out more effective in N uptake than Italian ryegrass when sown no later than the second decade of September. A trade-off between maize yield, catch-crop N uptake, or N losses need not necessarily occur.