Rotation, tillage and irrigation influence agronomic and environmental performance of maize-based bioenergy systems in a dynamic long-term experiment in NE Germany

Sammanfattning

Context and objectives: Cropland use for biogas production has sparked debate due to its competition with food production and potential environmental trade-offs derived from maize-based systems. Furthermore, climate change influenced cropping conditions, generating the need to adapt productive and sustainable systems. This work aimed to optimise crop production and sustainability in the face of these challenges by exploring alternatives to existing crop sequence, tillage and irrigation strategies. Methodology: Within a long-term field experiment conducted in M & uuml;ncheberg (NE Germany), specific cropping systems were assessed from 2008 to 2015, with two alternative crop sequences (continuous maize vs. 4-year crop rotation), tillage practices (plough/no-till), and irrigation (irrigated/rainfed). Productivity indicators, water and N use efficiency, and soil fertility indicators were evaluated at the cropping system level. Results and discussion: Continuous maize systems achieved the highest energy and methane yield levels, while the diverse crop rotation achieved the highest protein yields. Irrigation showed variable yield increases (8-125 %) at rainfall levels < 400 mm pa. The tillage reduction showed a trend to lower yield but higher soil C in the later experimental years. Overall, the systems with the highest productivity also showed high levels of resource use efficiency. Conclusions: We observed a trade-off between productivity and sustainability when diversifying continuous maize systems. Higher productivity came with evidence of soil quality decline over time. A maize and perennial legume forage-based system coupled with a target water supply for maize of 400 mm pa and the adoption of strategic tillage could maintain high productivity and sustainability in the long term.

Nyckelord

Bioenergetic cropping systems; Diversification; Legumes; N use efficiency; Soil organic C; Trade-offs; Yield benchmarking

Publicerad i

Field Crops Research
2025, volym: 326, artikelnummer: 109866
Utgivare: ELSEVIER

SLU författare

• Reckling, Moritz

  • Institutionen för växtproduktionsekologi, Sveriges lantbruksuniversitet
    
  • Leibniz-Zentrum für Agrarlandschaftsforschung (ZALF)

UKÄ forskningsämne

Jordbruksvetenskap

Publikationens identifierare

• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fcr.2025.109866

Permanent länk till denna sida (URI)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/141499