Effect of management and age of ploughed out grass–clover on forage maize yield and residual soil nitrogen

Cougnon, M.; Van Den Berge, K.; D'Hose, T.; Clement, L.; Reheul, D.

doi:10.1017/s0021859618000631

Cited by 14Agronomic Practices and Intercropping SystemsPasture and Agricultural SystemsCrop Yield and Soil Fertility

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Effect of management and age of ploughed out grass–clover on forage maize yield and residual soil nitrogen

Cougnon, M., Van Den Berge, K., D'Hose, T., Clement, L., Reheul, D.·2018·The Journal of Agricultural Science

DOI 10.1017/s0021859618000631

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Abstract

Forage maize ( Zea mays L.) is often grown year after year on the same land on many intensive dairy farms in north-west Europe. This results in agronomical problems such as weed resistance and decline of soil quality, which may be solved by ley-arable farming. In the current study, forage maize was grown at different nitrogen (N) fertilization levels for 3 years on permanent arable land and on temporary arable land after ploughing out different types of grass–clover swards. Swards differed in management (grazing or cutting) and age (temporary or permanent). Maize yield and soil residual mineral N content were measured after the maize harvest. There was no effect on maize yield of the management of ploughed-out grass–clover swards but a clear effect of the age of grass–clover swards. The N fertilizer replacement value (NFRV) of all ploughed grass–clover swards was >170 kg N/ha in the first year after ploughing. In the third year after ploughing, NFRV of the permanent sward still exceeded 200 kg N/ha, whereas that of the temporary swards decreased to 30 kg N/ha on average. Soil residual nitrate (NO 3 − ) remained below the local, legal threshold of 90 kg NO 3 − N/ha except for the ploughed-out permanent sward in the third year after ploughing (166 kg NO 3 − N/ha). The current study highlights the potential of forage maize – ley rotations in saving fertilizer N. This is beneficial both for the environment and for the profitability of dairy production in north-western Europe.

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If nitrogen release and crop demand are not well synchronized, the excess nitrogen constitutes an environmental risk.
“However, if the release of N and the crop demand are not well synchronized, the excess N constitutes an environmental risk (Cougnon et al. 2018;Eriksen et al. 2008).”
From Cover crops and optimal N management reduce nitrate leaching to background levels in grass-clover–barley rotations on sandy soil (2026) · cites this paper as Cougnon et al. 2018

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Authors: Cougnon, M., Van Den Berge, K., D'Hose, T., Clement, L., & Reheul, D.
Affiliations: Ghent University (BE)
Corresponding author: Cougnon, M.
ORCID: Cougnon, M.
Clement, L.
Reheul, D.
Venue: The Journal of Agricultural Science
Publisher: Cambridge University Press (CUP)
Published: 2018-08
Volume: 156
Issue: 6
Pages: 748-757
ISSN: 0021-8596 (ISSN-L)
1469-5146
DOI: 10.1017/s0021859618000631
OpenAlex: W2888524719
Cited by: 14
References: 32
Citations by year: 2026: 5 · 2025: 2 · 2024: 1 · 2023: 1 · 2022: 3 · 2021: 1 · 2020: 1
FWCI: 0.85
Type: journal article
Language: en
Open access: closed
Licence: www.cambridge.org/core/terms (unspecified, 21 d)
Locations: The Journal of Agricultural Science (publishedVersion)
Ghent University Academic Bibliography (Ghent University) (submittedVersion)
Topics: Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Agronomy and Crop Science › Agronomic Practices and Intercropping Systems
Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Agronomy and Crop Science › Pasture and Agricultural Systems
Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Agronomy and Crop Science › Crop Yield and Soil Fertility
Keywords: forage maize, grass-clover swards, residual soil nitrate, sward age, nitrogen fertilization, dairy farming, soil quality, weed resistance

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Effect of management and age of ploughed out grass–clover on forage maize yield and residual soil nitrogen

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