Legacy effects of soil fertility management on cereal dry matter and nitrogen grain yield of organic arable cropping systems

The yields of crops in organic farming are typically lower than conventional farming, although this depend greatly on local climatic conditions and crop soil management. A long-term study over three consecutive 4-year cropping cycles at locations Denmark compared arable systems varying fertilization management (green manure crops, cover livestock manure) to the effects fertility yields. analysis results showed that nitrogen (N) derived from has a legacy effect dry matter N grain yield spring barley being traceable 5-8 years back time. net input residues for 1-4 prior winter wheat had significant both wheat. should focus reducing weed pressure, promoting increasing supply optimize For barley, pressure reduced yield. as pre-crop positive while rotation did not significantly affect application was most effective However, applied also considerable yield-enhancing effects. wheat, inputs previous (1-4 years) increased yields, incorporated cycle (5-8 enhanced These through enhancing retaining suggest holistic approach is necessary, needs suppression, targeting uptake.