Hostname: page-component-6766d58669-7cz98 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2026-05-15T03:55:12.878Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Predicting the effect of rotation design on N, P, K balances on organic farms using the NDICEA model

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 October 2015

Laurence G. Smith ,
Davide Tarsitano ,
Cairistiona F. E. Topp ,
Stephanie K. Jones ,
Catherine L. Gerrard ,
Bruce D. Pearce ,
Adrian G. Williams  and
Christine A. Watson
Laurence G. Smith
Affiliation:
The Organic Research Centre, Hamstead Marshall, RG20 0HR, UK. School of Environment, Energy and AgriFood, Cranfield University, Bedford, MK43 0AL, UK.
Davide Tarsitano
Affiliation:
Crop and Soils Systems, Scotland's Rural College (SRUC), West Mains Road, Edinburgh EH9 3JG, UK.
Cairistiona F. E. Topp
Affiliation:
Crop and Soils Systems, Scotland's Rural College (SRUC), West Mains Road, Edinburgh EH9 3JG, UK.
Stephanie K. Jones
Affiliation:
Crop and Soils Systems, Scotland's Rural College (SRUC), West Mains Road, Edinburgh EH9 3JG, UK.
Catherine L. Gerrard
Affiliation:
The Organic Research Centre, Hamstead Marshall, RG20 0HR, UK.
Bruce D. Pearce
Affiliation:
The Organic Research Centre, Hamstead Marshall, RG20 0HR, UK.
Adrian G. Williams*
Affiliation:
School of Environment, Energy and AgriFood, Cranfield University, Bedford, MK43 0AL, UK.
Christine A. Watson
Affiliation:
Crop and Soils Systems, Scotland's Rural College (SRUC), Craibstone Estate, Aberdeen, AB21 9YA, UK.
*
* Corresponding author: adrian.williams@cranfield.ac.uk
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

The dynamic model Nitrogen Dynamics in Crop rotations in Ecological Agriculture (NDICEA) was used to assess the nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) balance of long-term organic cropping trials and typical organic crop rotations on a range of soil types and rainfall zones in the UK. The measurements of soil N taken at each of the organic trial sites were also used to assess the performance of NDICEA. The modeled outputs compared well to recorded soil N levels, with relatively small error margins. NDICEA therefore seems to be a useful tool for UK organic farmers. The modeling of typical organic rotations has shown that positive N balances can be achieved, although negative N balances can occur under high rainfall conditions and on lighter soil types as a result of leaching. The analysis and modeling also showed that some organic cropping systems rely on imported sources of P and K to maintain an adequate balance and large deficits of both nutrients are apparent in stockless systems. Although the K deficits could be addressed through the buffering capacity of minerals, the amount available for crop uptake will depend on the type and amount of minerals present, current cropping and fertilization practices and the climatic environment. A P deficit represents a more fundamental problem for the maintenance of crop yields and the organic sector currently relies on mined sources of P which represents a fundamental conflict with the International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements organic principles.

Keywords

organic farmingnutrientssustainabilitycrop rotation

Information

Type
Research Papers
Information
Renewable Agriculture and Food Systems , Volume 31 , Issue 5 , October 2016 , pp. 471 - 484
Check for updates
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2015 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

Article purchase

Temporarily unavailable

References

ADAS. 2006. Assessing the sustainability of a stockless arable organic rotation. Defra Project OF0318. ADAS UK Ltd, UK.Google Scholar
Altieri, M., Companioni, N., Cañizares, K., Murphy, C., Rosset, P., Bourque, M., and Nicholls, C. 1999. The greening of the “barrios”: Urban agriculture for food security in Cuba. Agriculture and Human Values 16:131–140.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Andrist-Rangel, Y., Edwards, A., Hillier, S., and Öborn, I. 2007. Long-term K dynamics in organic and conventional mixed cropping systems as related to management and soil properties. Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment 122:413–426.Google Scholar
Andrist-Rangel, Y., Hillier, S., Öborn, I., Lilly, A., Towers, W., Edwards, A.C., and Paterson, E. 2010. Assessing potassium reserves in northern temperate grassland soils: A perspective based on quantitative mineralogical analysis and aqua-regia extractable potassium. Geoderma 158:303–314.Google Scholar
Aronsson, H., Torstensson, G., and Bergström, L. 2007. Leaching and crop uptake of N, P and K from organic and conventional cropping systems on a clay soil. Soil Use and Management 23:71–81.Google Scholar
Bar-Yosef, B., Magen, H., Johnston, A.E., and Kirkby, E.A. 2015. Potassium fertilization: Paradox or K management dilemma? Renewable Agriculture and Food Systems 30:115–119.Google Scholar
Bergström, L., Kirchmann, H., Aronsson, H., Torstensson, G., and Mattsson, L. 2008. Use efficiency and leaching of nutrients in organic and conventional cropping systems in Sweden. In Kirchmann, H. and Bergström, L. (eds.). Organic Crop Production–Ambitions and Limitations. Springer, Dordrecht. p. 143–159.Google Scholar
Berry, P.M., Sylvester-Bradley, R., Philipps, L., Hatch, D.J., Cuttle, S.P., Rayns, F.W., and Gosling, P. 2002. Is the productivity of organic farms restricted by the supply of available nitrogen? Soil Use and Management 18:248–255.Google Scholar
Berry, P., Stockdale, E., Sylvester-Bradley, R., Philipps, L., Smith, K., Lord, E., Watson, C., and Fortune, S. 2003. N, P and K budgets for crop rotations on nine organic farms in the UK. Soil Use and Management 19:112–118.Google Scholar
Buckman, H.O. and Brady, N.C. 1984. The Nature and Properties of Soils. 9th ed. Macmillan, New York, NY.Google Scholar
Cassman, K.G., Dobermann, A., and Walters, D.T. 2002. Agroecosystems, nitrogen-use efficiency, and nitrogen management. AMBIO: A Journal of the Human Environment 31:132–140.Google Scholar
Cordell, D., Drangert, J.-O., and White, S. 2009. The story of phosphorus: global food security and food for thought. Global Environmental Change 19:292–305.Google Scholar
Cormack, W.F. 2006. Crop performance in a stockless arable organic rotation in eastern England. Biological Agriculture and Horticulture 24:1–20.Google Scholar
Cox, T., Bender, M., Picone, C., Tassel, D.V., Holland, J., Brummer, E., Zoeller, B., Paterson, A., and Jackson, W. 2002. Breeding perennial grain crops. Critical Reviews in Plant Sciences 21:59–91.Google Scholar
Darnhofer, I. 2005. Organic farming and rural development: Some evidence from Austria. Sociologia Ruralis 45:308–323.Google Scholar
Dawson, J.C., Huggins, D.R., and Jones, S.S. 2008. Characterizing nitrogen use efficiency in natural and agricultural ecosystems to improve the performance of cereal crops in low-input and organic agricultural systems. Field Crops Research 107:89–101.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
de Ponti, T., Rijk, B., and van Ittersum, M.K. 2012. The crop yield gap between organic and conventional agriculture. Agricultural Systems 108:1–9.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Dekker, S.E.M., de Boer, I.J.M., Vermeij, I., Aarnink, A.J.A., and Koerkamp, P.W.G.G. 2011. Ecological and economic evaluation of Dutch egg production systems. Livestock Science 139:109–121.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Di, H. and Cameron, K. 2002. Nitrate leaching in temperate agroecosystems: Sources, factors and mitigating strategies. Nutrient Cycling in Agroecosystems 64:237–256.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Döring, T., Baddeley, J., Hatch, D., Marshall, A., Pearce, B., Roderick, S., Stobart, R., Storkey, J., Watson, C., and Wolfe, M. 2013. Using Legume-Based Mixtures to Enhance the Nitrogen use Efficiency and Economic Viability of Cropping Systems. Home Grown Cereals Authority, Kenilworth.Google Scholar
Edwards, A.C., Walker, R.L., Maskell, P., Watson, C.A., Rees, R.M., Stockdale, E.A., and Knox, O.G. 2010. Improving bioavailability of phosphate rock for organic farming. In Lichtfouse, E. (ed.). Genetic Engineering, Biofertilisation, Soil Quality and Organic Farming. Springer, Dordrecht. p. 99–117 Google Scholar
El-Hage Scialabba, N. and Müller-Lindenlauf, M. 2010. Organic agriculture and climate change. Renewable Agriculture and Food Systems 25:11.Google Scholar
European Council. 2007. Council Regulation (EC) No 834/2007 of 28 June 2007 on organic production and labelling of organic products and repealing Regulation (EEC) No 2092/91. European Commission, Brussels.Google Scholar
Francis, C. and Porter, P. 2011. Ecology in sustainable agriculture practices and systems. Critical Reviews in Plant Sciences 30:64–73.Google Scholar
Gattinger, A., Muller, A., Haeni, M., Skinner, C., Fliessbach, A., Buchmann, N., Mäder, P., Stolze, M., Smith, P., and Scialabba, N.E.-H. 2012. Enhanced top soil carbon stocks under organic farming. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 109:18226–18231.Google Scholar
Gaudin, A., Westra, S., Loucks, C.E., Janovicek, K., Martin, R.C., and Deen, W. 2013. Improving resilience of northern field crop systems using inter-seeded red clover: A review. Agronomy 3:148–180.Google Scholar
Germer, J., Addai, S., and Sauerborn, J. 2011. Response of grain sorghum to fertilisation with human urine. Field Crops Research 122:234–241.Google Scholar
Godfray, H. 2014. The challenge of feeding 9–10 billion people equitably and sustainably. Journal of Agricultural Science 152:1–7.Google Scholar
Gomiero, T., Pimentel, D., and Paoletti, M.G. 2011. Environmental impact of different agricultural management practices: Conventional vs. organic agriculture. Critical Reviews in Plant Sciences 30:95–124.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Greenland, D.J. 1997. The Sustainability of Rice Farming. CAB International, Wallingford.Google Scholar
Haggar, R. and Padel, S. 1996. Conversion to Organic Milk Production (Defra Project OF0103). University of Wales Aberystwyth, Aberystwyth.Google Scholar
Hansen, B., Kristensen, E.S., Grant, R., Høgh-Jensen, H., Simmelsgaard, S.E., and Olesen, J.E. 2000. Nitrogen leaching from conventional versus organic farming systems—a systems modelling approach. European Journal of Agronomy 13:65–82.Google Scholar
Hinsinger, P., Dufey, J., and Jaillard, B. 1991. Biological weathering of micas in the rhizosphere as related to potassium absorption by plant roots. In McMichael, B. and Persson, H. (eds.). Plant Roots and Their Environment. Elsevier, Amsterdam. p. 98–105.Google Scholar
Hoffland, E., Giesler, R., Jongmans, T., and Van Breemen, N. 2002. Increasing feldspar tunneling by fungi across a north Sweden podzol chronosequence. Ecosystems 5:11–22.Google Scholar
Holmqvist, J., Øgaard, A.F., Öborn, I., Edwards, A., Mattsson, L., and Sverdrup, H. 2003. Application of the PROFILE model to estimate potassium release from mineral weathering in Northern European agricultural soils. European Journal of Agronomy 20:149–163.Google Scholar
International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements (IFOAM). 2006. IFOAM Organic Principles. IFOAM, Bonn.Google Scholar
Johnston, A.E., Poulton, P.R., and Coleman, K. 2009. Soil organic matter: its importance in sustainable agriculture and carbon dioxide fluxes. In Sparks, D. (ed.). Advances in Agronomy. Academic Press, San Diego, CA. p. 1–57.Google Scholar
Jørgensen, K.F. and Kristensen, E. 2010. Fælles Strategi for Udfasning af Konventionel Gødning og halm i økologisk Landbrugsproduktion [Common Strategy for the Phasing Out of Manure and Straw in Organic Agriculture]. Organic Denmark and Danish Agriculture and Food Council, Copenhagen.Google Scholar
Kaffka, S. and Koepf, H.H. 1989. A case study on the nutrient regime in sustainable farming. Biological Agriculture and Horticulture 6:89–106.Google Scholar
Karak, T. and Bhattacharyya, P. 2011. Human urine as a source of alternative natural fertilizer in agriculture: A flight of fancy or an achievable reality. Resources, Conservation and Recycling 55:400–408.Google Scholar
Khan, S., Mulvaney, R., and Ellsworth, T. 2014. The potassium paradox: Implications for soil fertility, crop production and human health. Renewable Agriculture and Food Systems 29:3–27.Google Scholar
Khan, S., Mulvaney, R., Ellsworth, T., and Boast, C. 2007. The myth of nitrogen fertilization for soil carbon sequestration. Journal of Environmental Quality 36:1821–1832.Google Scholar
Kirchmann, H., Bergström, L., Kätterer, T., Mattsson, L., and Gesslein, S. 2007. Comparison of long-term organic and conventional crop–livestock systems on a previously nutrient-depleted soil in Sweden. Agronomy Journal 99:960–972.Google Scholar
Kirchmann, H., Kätterer, T., and Bergström, L. 2008. Nutrient supply in organic agriculture. In Kirchmann, H. and Bergström, L. (eds.). Organic Crop Production—Ambitions and Limitations. Springer, Dordrecht. p. 89–116.Google Scholar
Korsaeth, A. 2012. N, P, and K budgets and changes in selected topsoil nutrients over 10 yr in a long-term experiment with conventional and organic crop rotations. Applied and Environmental Soil Science 2012:17.Google Scholar
Lampkin, N. 2002. Organic Farming. Old Pond Publishing, Ipswich.Google Scholar
Lampkin, N., Measures, M., and Padel, S. 2011. 2011/12 Organic Farm Management Handbook. The Organic Research Centre, Elm Farm, Newbury.Google Scholar
Le Gal, P.Y., Dugué, P., Faure, G., and Novak, S. 2011. How does research address the design of innovative agricultural production systems at the farm level? A review. Agricultural Systems 104:714–728.Google Scholar
Lennartsson, M. 2000. Conversion to Organic Field Vegetable Production (Defra Project OF0126 T). Garden Organic, Ryton.Google Scholar
Liang, X., Xu, L., Li, H., He, M., Qian, Y., Liu, J., Nie, Z., Ye, Y., and Chen, Y. 2011. Influence of N fertilization rates, rainfall, and temperature on nitrate leaching from a rainfed winter wheat field in Taihu watershed. Physics and Chemistry of the Earth 36:395–400.Google Scholar
Loes, A.K. and Øgaard, A.F. 1997. Changes in the nutrient content of agricultural soil on conversion to organic farming in relation to farm-level nutrient balances and soil contents of clay and organic matter. Acta Agriculturae Scandinavica, Section B—Soil and Plant Science 47:201–214.Google Scholar
Luske, B. and van der Kamp, J. 2009. Carbon Sequestration Potential of Reclaimed Desert Soils in Egypt. Louis Bolk Institute Driebergen and Soil and More International, Waddinxveen.Google Scholar
Melillo, J.M., Aber, J.D., Linkins, A.E., Ricca, A., Fry, B., and Nadelhoffer, K.J. 1989. Carbon and nitrogen dynamics along the decay continuum: Plant litter to soil organic matter. Plant and Soil 115:189–198.Google Scholar
Mengel, K., and Rahmatullah, D.H. 1998. Release of potassium from the silt and sand fraction of loess-derived soils. Soil Science 163:805–813.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Moakes, S. and Lampkin, N. 2010. Organic Farm Incomes in England and Wales 2008/09 (Defra Project OF0373). University of Wales Aberystwyth, Aberystwyth and The Organic Research Centre, Newbury.Google Scholar
Moakes, S. and Lampkin, N. 2011. Organic Farm Incomes in England and Wales 2009/10 (Defra Project OF0373). University of Wales Aberystwyth, Aberystwyth and The Organic Research Centre, Newbury.Google Scholar
Moakes, S., Lampkin, N., and Gerrard, C.L. 2012. Organic Farm Incomes in England and Wales 2010/11 (Defra Project OF0373). University of Wales Aberystwyth, Aberystwyth and The Organic Research Centre, Newbury.Google Scholar
Möller, K. 2009a. Influence of different manuring systems with and without biogas digestion on soil organic matter and nitrogen inputs, flows and budgets in organic cropping systems. Nutrient Cycling in Agroecosystems 84:179–202.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Möller, K. and Stinner, W. 2009b. Effects of different manuring systems with and without biogas digestion on soil mineral nitrogen content and on gaseous nitrogen losses (ammonia, nitrous oxides). European Journal of Agronomy 30:1–16.Google Scholar
Mulvaney, R.L., Khan, S.A., and Ellsworth, T.R. 2009. Synthetic nitrogen fertilizers deplete soil nitrogen. A global dilemma for sustainable cereal production. Journal of Environmental Quality 38:2295–2314.Google Scholar
Nowak, B., Nesme, T., David, C., and Pellerin, S. 2013. To what extent does organic farming rely on nutrient inflows from conventional farming? Environmental Research Letters 8:044045.Google Scholar
Oelofse, M., Høgh-Jensen, H., Abreu, L.S., Almeida, G.F., El-Araby, A., Hui, Q.Y., and de Neergaard, A. 2010. A comparative study of farm nutrient budgets and nutrient flows of certified organic and non-organic farms in China, Brazil and Egypt. Nutrient Cycling in Agroecosystems 87:455–470.Google Scholar
Oelofse, M., Jensen, L., and Magid, J. 2013. The implications of phasing out conventional nutrient supply in organic agriculture: Denmark as a case. Organic Agriculture 3:41–55.Google Scholar
Patil, R.H., Laegdsmand, M., Olesen, J.E., and Porter, J.R. 2010. Effect of soil warming and rainfall patterns on soil N cycling in northern Europe. Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment 139:195–205.Google Scholar
Pimentel, D., Cerasale, D., Stanley, R.C., Perlman, R., Newman, E.M., Brent, L.C., Mullan, A., and Chang, D.T.-I. 2012. Annual vs. perennial grain production. Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment 161:1–9.Google Scholar
Pretty, J.N., Noble, A.D., Bossio, D., Dixon, J., Hine, R.E., Penning de Vries, F.W.T., and Morison, J.I.L. 2005. Resource-conserving agriculture increases yields in developing countries. Environmental Science and Technology 40:1114–1119.Google Scholar
Robinson, K.G., Robinson, C.H., Raup, L.A., and Markum, T.R. 2012. Public attitudes and risk perception toward land application of biosolids within the south-eastern United States. Journal of Environmental Management 98:29–36.Google Scholar
Schmutz, U., Rayns, F., and Firth, C. 2007. Balancing fertility management and economics in organic field vegetable rotations. Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture 87:2791–2793.Google Scholar
Seufert, V., Ramankutty, N., and Foley, J.A. 2012. Comparing the yields of organic and conventional agriculture. Nature 485:229–232.Google Scholar
Simonsson, M., Andersson, S., Andrist-Rangel, Y., Hillier, S., Mattsson, L., and Öborn, I. 2007. Potassium release and fixation as a function of fertilizer application rate and soil parent material. Geoderma 140:188–198.Google Scholar
Smith, K., Beckwith, C., Chalmers, A., and Jackson, D. 2002. Nitrate leaching following autumn and winter application of animal manures to grassland. Soil Use and Management 18:428–434.Google Scholar
Smith, L.G., Williams, A.G., and Pearce, B.D. 2015. The energy efficiency of organic agriculture: A review. Renewable Agriculture and Food Systems 30:280–301.Google Scholar
Smith, S. 2009. Organic contaminants in sewage sludge (biosolids) and their significance for agricultural recycling. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society A: Mathematical, Physical and Engineering Sciences 367:4005–4041.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Snapp, S.S., Swinton, S.M., Labarta, R., Mutch, D., Black, J.R., Leep, R., Nyiraneza, J., and O'Neil, K. 2005. Evaluating cover crops for benefits, costs and performance within cropping system niches. Agronomy Journal 97:322–332.Google Scholar
Stinner, W., Möller, K., and Leithold, G. 2008. Effects of biogas digestion of clover/grass-leys, cover crops and crop residues on nitrogen cycle and crop yield in organic stockless farming systems. European Journal of Agronomy 29:125–134.Google Scholar
Taylor, B., Younie, D., Matheson, S., Coutts, M., Mayer, C., Watson, C., and Walker, R. 2006. Output and sustainability of organic ley/arable crop rotations at two sites in northern Scotland. Journal of Agricultural Science 144:435–447.Google Scholar
Torstensson, G., Aronsson, H., and Bergström, L. 2006. Nutrient use efficiencies and leaching of organic and conventional cropping systems in Sweden. Agronomy Journal 98:603–615.Google Scholar
Trydeman Knudsen, M., Sillebak Kristensen, I., Berntsen, J., Molt Petersen, B., and Steen Kristensen, E. 2006. Estimated N leaching losses for organic and conventional farming in Denmark. Journal of Agricultural Science 144:135–149.Google Scholar
Valdivia, C., Barbieri, C., and Gold, M.A. 2012. Between forestry and farming: Policy and environmental implications of the barriers to agroforestry adoption. Canadian Journal of Agricultural Economics/Revue canadienne d'agroeconomie 60:155–175.Google Scholar
Van der Burgt, G.J. and Rietberg, P. 2012. Enhancement of the NDICEA Decision Support Tool for Reducing N Losses in Commercial Farming. In WP2, Deliverable 2.6, EC Framework 7 project N-TOOLBOX, KBBE-2008–1-2-08. L.D. Louis Bolk Institute, Driebergen.Google Scholar
Van der Burgt, G., Oomen, G., Habets, A., and Rossing, W. 2006. The NDICEA model, a tool to improve nitrogen use efficiency in cropping systems. Nutrient Cycling in Agroecosystems 74:275–294.Google Scholar
Verhoeven, F., Reijs, J., and Van Der Ploeg, J. 2003. Re-balancing soil-plant-animal interactions: Towards reduction of nitrogen losses. NJAS-Wageningen Journal of Life Sciences 51:147–164.Google Scholar
Watson, C., Younie, D., Stockdale, E., Cormack, W., Cook, S., Green, M., Holland, J., Leake, A., and Welsh, J. 2000. Yields and nutrient balances in stocked and stockless organic rotations in the UK. Aspects of Applied Biology 62:261–268.Google Scholar
Watson, C.A., Atkinson, D., Gosling, P., Jackson, L.R., and Rayns, F.W. 2002. Managing soil fertility in organic farming systems. Soil Use and Management 18:239–247.Google Scholar
Watson, C., Öborn, I., Eriksen, J., and Edwards, A. 2005. Perspectives on nutrient management in mixed farming systems. Soil Use and Management 21:8.Google Scholar
Watson, C., Baddeley, J., Edwards, A., Rees, R., Walker, R., and Topp, C. 2011. Influence of ley duration on the yield and quality of the subsequent cereal crop (spring oats) in an organically managed long-term crop rotation experiment. Organic Agriculture 1:147–159.Google Scholar
Webb, J., Pain, B., Bittman, S., and Morgan, J. 2010. The impacts of manure application methods on emissions of ammonia, nitrous oxide and on crop response—A review. Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment 137:39–46.Google Scholar
Welsh, J.P., Philipps, L., and Cormack, W.F. 2002. The long-term agronomic performance of organic stockless rotations. In Powell, J. (ed.). Proceedings of the UK Organic Research Conference. Organic Centre Wales. University of Wales Aberystwyth, Aberystwyth. p. 47–50.Google Scholar
Wilkins, R. 2008. Eco-efficient approaches to land management: A case for increased integration of crop and animal production systems. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences 363:517–525.Google Scholar