A 60-years old field experiment demonstrates the benefit of leys in the crop rotation

Abstract

In the 1950s, a long-term experiment was initiated at three locations in Northern Sweden. The treatments included four cropping systems, which differed in the number of years with leys or annual crops in the crop rotation. To create awareness of the experiment as a research resource for further scientific studies, we summarise the history (experimental design, materials and methods, main measurements) and scientific findings of the experiment, as well as reflect on its usefulness and opportunities for further studies. So far, scientific focus has been on the effects of cropping systems on soil characteristics. The main findings indicate that soil porosity and hydraulic conductivity were greater in cropping systems with a large proportion of ley, soil bulk density showed the opposite trend. In terms of chemical properties, cropping systems incorporating more ley also have greater soil organic carbon content than annual crops systems, and both soil carbon and N storage decrease over time in cropping systems with only annual crops. The effects of cropping system on crop yields and quality are areas for further investigation.

Keywords

Crop rotation; forage crop; legume; soil organic carbon; soil organic nitrogen

Published in

Acta Agriculturae Scandinavica, Section B - Soil and Plant Science
2019, volume: 69, number: 1, pages: 36-42
Publisher: TAYLOR & FRANCIS AS

SLU Authors

• Zhou, Zhenjiang

  • Department of Agricultural Research for Northern Sweden, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

• Palmborg, Cecilia

  • Department of Agricultural Research for Northern Sweden, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

• Ericson, Lars

  • Department of Agricultural Research for Northern Sweden, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

• Dryler, Kent

  • Department of Agricultural Research for Northern Sweden, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

• Lindgren, Kim

  • Department of Agricultural Research for Northern Sweden, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

• Bergkvist, Göran

  • Department of Crop Production Ecology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

• Parsons, David

  • Department of Agricultural Research for Northern Sweden, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

UKÄ Subject classification

Soil Science

Publication identifier

• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/09064710.2018.1492010

Permanent link to this page (URI)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/96977