Vertical Root Distribution of Different Cover Crops Determined with the Profile Wall Method

Roman Kemper, Tábata A. Bublitz, Phillip Müller, Timo Kautz, Thomas F. Döring and Miriam Athmann
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Roman Kemper: Department of Agroecology and Organic Farming, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Bonn, Auf dem Hügel 6, 53121 Bonn, Germany
Tábata A. Bublitz: Department of Agroecology and Organic Farming, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Bonn, Auf dem Hügel 6, 53121 Bonn, Germany
Phillip Müller: Department of Agroecology and Organic Farming, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Bonn, Auf dem Hügel 6, 53121 Bonn, Germany
Timo Kautz: Department of Agronomy and Crop Science, Faculty of Life Sciences, Humboldt University of Berlin, Albrecht-Thaer-Weg 5, 14195 Berlin, Germany
Thomas F. Döring: Department of Agroecology and Organic Farming, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Bonn, Auf dem Hügel 6, 53121 Bonn, Germany
Miriam Athmann: Department of Agroecology and Organic Farming, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Bonn, Auf dem Hügel 6, 53121 Bonn, Germany

Agriculture, 2020, vol. 10, issue 11, 1-17

Abstract: Many benefits of cover crops such as prevention of nitrate leaching, erosion reduction, soil organic carbon enhancement and improvement of soil structure are associated with roots. However, including root characteristics as a criterion for cover crop selection requires more knowledge on their root growth dynamics. Seven cover crop species (crimson clover, winter rye, bristle oats, blue lupin, oil radish, winter turnip rape and phacelia) were grown in a two-year organically managed field experiment in Germany to screen them for root intensity and vertical root distribution. Root length density (RLD) and proportion of root length in large-sized biopores were determined before and after winter with the profile wall method. RLD and cumulative root length were analysed using a three-parameter logistic function, and a logistic dose-response function, respectively. Fibrous rooted winter rye and crimson clover showed high RLD in topsoil and had a shallow cumulative root distribution. Their RLD increased further during winter in topsoil and subsoil. The crops with the highest RLD in the subsoil were taprooted oil radish, winter turnip rape and phacelia. Bristle oat had intermediate features. Blue lupin had low RLD in topsoil and subsoil. Phacelia, oil radish, winter turnip rape and bristle oat showed the highest share of root length in biopores. These complementary root characteristics suggest that combining cover crops of different root types in intercropping may be used to enhance overall RLD for maximizing cover crop benefits.

Keywords: root length density; below-ground; biopore; catch crop; cumulative root distribution; legume (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q1 Q10 Q11 Q12 Q13 Q14 Q15 Q16 Q17 Q18 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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