Strategies to Reduce Nitrogen Losses via Leaching and to Increase Precrop Effects when Growing Faba Beans

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Abstract
In four year field trials faba bean cultivation techniques were tested with the primary aim to reduce nitrate losses via leaching by increasing crop soil-nitrate uptake. This aim did not generally contradict the aims of gaining high faba bean grain yields, high amounts of symbiotically fixed nitrogen and an increased precrop effect. As a function of poor rooting systems and poor soil-nitrate uptake faba bean pure stands left high amounts of nitrate in the soil before winter, which is suspected to be leached during winter. A more homogenous rooting-distribution via narrow faba bean row distances increased soil-nitrate uptake and slightly reduced residual- nitrate content before winter. Increasing crop rooting-density by intercropping with cereals or undersown non-legumes considerably reduced soil residual-nitrate content. Undersown brassicas like oil-radish or white mustard were more efficient than ryegrass and intercropping with cereals. Undersown crops showed no negative effect on faba bean grain yield and N2-fixation. Intercropping with cereals considerably reduced faba grain yield and N2-fixation. Underseed variety in faba beans and intercropping considerably affected precrop effects to the successive crop oats as a function of different amounts and temporary availability of nitrogen.

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