Influence of catch crop on soil properties and yield of spring barley

Biomass of legumes grown as catch crops improves soil properties and thus soil conditions for following crops. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of field pea (Pisum sativum L.) grown as a catch crop and used for green manure on soil properties and yielding of spring barley (Hordeum vulgare L.). Field experiments were conducted in 2008-2011 in the randomized block design with four replications, in typical black earth. The experimental factor was the time and way of catch crop incorporation: in autumn–with plowing (1); in the spring–with disking (2); control–without a catch crop (3). The soil with the catch crop contained significantly higher mineral nitrogen in the topsoil during tillering of barley than the control. Catch crop caused significant decrease in soil moisture and increase in penetration resistance in the topsoil in autumn. No significant effect of the catch crop on soil moisture during spring barley growing season in the following spring was obtained. Catch crop plowing in autumn caused significant decrease in soil penetration resistance in the 20-30 cm layer in early spring. Catch crop biomass plowed positively affected the number of spikes in sequential spring barley. Leaving pea as mulch for winter caused significant increase in 1000 grain weight compared to the control. Field pea grown as a catch crop for green manure can be recommended for increasing mineral nitrogen concentration and the soil biological activity in the topsoil. However, its influence on spring barley yield in fertile soils is low. Keywords: Green manure; Spring barley; Soil moisture; Penetration resistance; Mineral N; Soil microbial activity.