Productivity, light interception and radiation use efficiency of organic and conventional arable cropping systems

• DOI: 10.1016/j.eja.2021.126407
• Publication Date: 2021-10-25T17:22:01Z
• Authors: Laura Sofie Harbo; Chiara De Notaris; Jin Zhao; Jørgen E. Olesen
• Keywords: Arable land; Interception; Cropping system; Crop Rotation; Red Clover

How the productivity of crops in organic arable farming may be sustainably increased remains a key issue. We combined measurements crop yield, total aboveground biomass (AGB) and light interception over 4-year rotation cycle from 2015 to 2018 long-term experiment Denmark with conventional cropping systems. These systems comprise one (CGL) two (OGL OGC) rotations, where CGL OGL had three spring cereal grain legume (faba bean) rotation, faba bean was OGC replaced grass-clover. All rotations were grown without use cover crops, manure application. The calculated spectral reflectance, this allowed AGB decomposed into accumulated intercepted PAR (AIPAR) radiation efficiency (RUE). system significantly greater AGB, AIPAR RUE compared corresponding organic, legume-based (OGL). grass-clover-based (OGC) than CGL, although contrary conclusion found RUE. Across greatest for cereals smallest consistently grass-clover, both grass-clover smaller variability between years treatments crops. Cover but not CGL. affected by inclusion results show that can higher systems, is translated yield There is, therefore, need novel approaches management increasing yields feed food, which sustains soil fertility.