Pedosphere 34(1): 159--169, 2024
ISSN 1002-0160/CN 32-1315/P
©2024 Soil Science Society of China
Published by Elsevier B.V. and Science Press
| Environmental benefits and farmers' adoption of winter cover crops in the North China Plain |
Shufang GUO1,2, Yitao ZHANG3, Limei ZHAI1 , Jian LIU4, Hongyuan WANG1, Hongbin LIU1 |
1 State Key Laboratory of Efficient Utilization of Arid and Semi-arid Arable Land in Northern China, Key Laboratory of Nonpoint Source Pollution Control, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Institute of Agricultural Resources and Regional Planning, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081 (China)
2 Institute of Agricultural Environment and Resources, Yunnan Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Kunming 650205 (China)
3 Shandong Yucheng Agro-ecosystem National Observation Research Station, Key Laboratory of Ecosystem Network Observation and Modeling, Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101 (China)
4 The Norwegian Institute of Bioeconomy Research (NIBIO), Akershus 1431 (Norway) |
| ABSTRACT |
| The introduction of cover crops into monoculture systems to improve soil health has been widely adopted worldwide. However, little is known about the environmental risks and application prospects of different cover crops in spring maize (Zea mays L.) monocultures proposed in the North China Plain. A pot experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of different winter cover crops on subsequent maize yield, soil fertility, and environmental risks of nitrogen (N) loss, and a questionnaire survey was conducted to examine factors influencing farmers' willingness to adopt cover crops in the North China Plain. Based on the same fertilization regime during the maize growing period, four winter cover crop treatments were set up, including bare fallow, hairy vetch (Vicia villosa Roth.), February orchid (Orychophragmus violaceus), and winter oilseed rape (Brassica campestris L.). The results indicated that winter cover crops significantly increased subsequent maize yield and soil organic carbon, total N, and microbial biomass carbon and N compared with the bare fallow treatment. The incorporation of cover crops led to a negligible increase in nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions and had a very limited effect on ammonia (NH3) emissions. The incorporation of February orchid and winter oilseed rape decreased nitrate leaching compared with the hairy vetch treatment in the maize growing season. The N losses via N2O and NH3 emissions and N leaching accounted for 71%–84% of the N surplus. However, yield increase and environmental benefits were not the main positive factors for farmers to accept cover crops. Financial incentive was rated by 83.9% of farmers as an “extremely important” factor, followed by other costs, when considering winter cover cropping. These results indicate that the environmental benefits depend on the type of cover crop. Maintaining high levels of soil fertility and maize yield, providing sufficient subsidies, and encouraging large-area cultivation of cover crops are critical measures to promote winter cover cropping in the North China Plain. |
| Key Words: cover crop,N leaching,NH3 emission,N2O emission,spring maize,willingness to accept |
| Citation: Guo S F, Zhang Y T, Zhai L M, Liu J, Wang H Y, Liu H B. 2024. Environmental benefits and farmers’ adoption of winter cover crops in the North China Plain. Pedosphere. 34(1): 159–169. |
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