Nitrate leaching and nitrogen balances for integrated willow-poultry organic systems in Denmark

Kiril Manevski; Sanna Steenfeldt; Anne Louise Frydendahl Hellwing; Heidi Mai Lis Andersen; Uffe Jørgensen

doi:10.1016/j.agsy.2024.104149

Nitrate leaching and nitrogen balances for integrated willow-poultry organic systems in Denmark

Kiril Manevski^*, Sanna Steenfeldt, Anne Louise Frydendahl Hellwing, Heidi Mai Lis Andersen, Uffe Jørgensen

^*Corresponding author af dette arbejde

Publikation: Bidrag til tidsskrift/Konferencebidrag i tidsskrift /Bidrag til avis › Tidsskriftartikel › Forskning › peer review

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Abstract

CONTEXT: Integrating outdoor poultry production with agroforestry promotes both production and animal welfare, but very little data exist on field nitrate leaching and soil nitrogen (N) balances. OBJECTIVE: The objective of the study was to quantify the effect of feed (soybean portion was partly replaced with ‘green’ protein from refined local biomass) and stocking density (low, 6 m² hen⁻¹, high, 4 m² hen⁻¹) on nitrate leaching and soil N mass balance (inputs minus outputs) in outdoor poultry systems combined with willow and grass agroforestry on sandy soils. METHODS: The experiment was conducted in “organic” settings in Denmark on coarse sand soil cultivated with perennial grass-clover ley and short-rotation coppice with willow trees. Nitrate leaching was determined from soil nitrate concentrations measured at 1 m depth and water fluxes simulated by the process-based model Daisy for one full hydrological year involving the grazing period of spring-summer-autumn, and the winter and following spring. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: Observed soil nitrate concentrations were considerably lower and less variable in the willow zone compared to the grass zone. Nitrate leaching was significantly lower in the willow (26 ± 14 kg N ha⁻¹) compared to the grass zone (154 ± 28 kg N ha⁻¹). At factor level, nitrate leaching was comparable and marginally lower at low- compared to high stocking density. Feed input and manure output were major N flows in the paddocks, resulting in large surface N balance of 1198–1241 kg N ha⁻¹ at high- and 843–875 kg N ha⁻¹ at low stocking density, the lower end in each range being for the green-protein feed. The soil N balances were 26 % lower than the surface balances and similar between feed factors, yielding 614–634 and 899–906 kg N ha⁻¹ for low and high stocking density, respectively. SIGNIFICANCE: High spatial and temporal variability in nitrate destined for leaching from sandy soils remains challenging to control with short rotation coppiced willow in outdoor poultry paddocks on grass-clover ley. Reducing the stocking density of the hens by 33 % tightens the soil N balance for about 36 % (33–38 %), although further measures are necessary to reduce the N balance to levels environmentally suitable for agricultural soils.

Originalsprog	Engelsk
Artikelnummer	104149
Tidsskrift	Agricultural Systems
Vol/bind	221
ISSN	0308-521X
DOI	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agsy.2024.104149
Status	Udgivet - dec. 2024

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10.1016/j.agsy.2024.104149

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title = "Nitrate leaching and nitrogen balances for integrated willow-poultry organic systems in Denmark",

abstract = "CONTEXT: Integrating outdoor poultry production with agroforestry promotes both production and animal welfare, but very little data exist on field nitrate leaching and soil nitrogen (N) balances. OBJECTIVE: The objective of the study was to quantify the effect of feed (soybean portion was partly replaced with {\textquoteleft}green{\textquoteright} protein from refined local biomass) and stocking density (low, 6 m2 hen−1, high, 4 m2 hen−1) on nitrate leaching and soil N mass balance (inputs minus outputs) in outdoor poultry systems combined with willow and grass agroforestry on sandy soils. METHODS: The experiment was conducted in “organic” settings in Denmark on coarse sand soil cultivated with perennial grass-clover ley and short-rotation coppice with willow trees. Nitrate leaching was determined from soil nitrate concentrations measured at 1 m depth and water fluxes simulated by the process-based model Daisy for one full hydrological year involving the grazing period of spring-summer-autumn, and the winter and following spring. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: Observed soil nitrate concentrations were considerably lower and less variable in the willow zone compared to the grass zone. Nitrate leaching was significantly lower in the willow (26 ± 14 kg N ha−1) compared to the grass zone (154 ± 28 kg N ha−1). At factor level, nitrate leaching was comparable and marginally lower at low- compared to high stocking density. Feed input and manure output were major N flows in the paddocks, resulting in large surface N balance of 1198–1241 kg N ha−1 at high- and 843–875 kg N ha−1 at low stocking density, the lower end in each range being for the green-protein feed. The soil N balances were 26 % lower than the surface balances and similar between feed factors, yielding 614–634 and 899–906 kg N ha−1 for low and high stocking density, respectively. SIGNIFICANCE: High spatial and temporal variability in nitrate destined for leaching from sandy soils remains challenging to control with short rotation coppiced willow in outdoor poultry paddocks on grass-clover ley. Reducing the stocking density of the hens by 33 % tightens the soil N balance for about 36 % (33–38 %), although further measures are necessary to reduce the N balance to levels environmentally suitable for agricultural soils.",

keywords = "Agroforestry, Daisy, Evapotranspiration, Grass-clover, Nonparametric, Soil nitrate, Vegetation cover",

author = "Kiril Manevski and Sanna Steenfeldt and Hellwing, {Anne Louise Frydendahl} and Andersen, {Heidi Mai Lis} and Uffe J{\o}rgensen",

note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2024 Elsevier Ltd",

year = "2024",

month = dec,

doi = "10.1016/j.agsy.2024.104149",

language = "English",

volume = "221",

journal = " Agricultural Systems",

issn = "0308-521X",

publisher = "Elsevier B.V.",

}

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T1 - Nitrate leaching and nitrogen balances for integrated willow-poultry organic systems in Denmark

AU - Manevski, Kiril

AU - Steenfeldt, Sanna

AU - Hellwing, Anne Louise Frydendahl

AU - Andersen, Heidi Mai Lis

AU - Jørgensen, Uffe

PY - 2024/12

Y1 - 2024/12

N2 - CONTEXT: Integrating outdoor poultry production with agroforestry promotes both production and animal welfare, but very little data exist on field nitrate leaching and soil nitrogen (N) balances. OBJECTIVE: The objective of the study was to quantify the effect of feed (soybean portion was partly replaced with ‘green’ protein from refined local biomass) and stocking density (low, 6 m2 hen−1, high, 4 m2 hen−1) on nitrate leaching and soil N mass balance (inputs minus outputs) in outdoor poultry systems combined with willow and grass agroforestry on sandy soils. METHODS: The experiment was conducted in “organic” settings in Denmark on coarse sand soil cultivated with perennial grass-clover ley and short-rotation coppice with willow trees. Nitrate leaching was determined from soil nitrate concentrations measured at 1 m depth and water fluxes simulated by the process-based model Daisy for one full hydrological year involving the grazing period of spring-summer-autumn, and the winter and following spring. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: Observed soil nitrate concentrations were considerably lower and less variable in the willow zone compared to the grass zone. Nitrate leaching was significantly lower in the willow (26 ± 14 kg N ha−1) compared to the grass zone (154 ± 28 kg N ha−1). At factor level, nitrate leaching was comparable and marginally lower at low- compared to high stocking density. Feed input and manure output were major N flows in the paddocks, resulting in large surface N balance of 1198–1241 kg N ha−1 at high- and 843–875 kg N ha−1 at low stocking density, the lower end in each range being for the green-protein feed. The soil N balances were 26 % lower than the surface balances and similar between feed factors, yielding 614–634 and 899–906 kg N ha−1 for low and high stocking density, respectively. SIGNIFICANCE: High spatial and temporal variability in nitrate destined for leaching from sandy soils remains challenging to control with short rotation coppiced willow in outdoor poultry paddocks on grass-clover ley. Reducing the stocking density of the hens by 33 % tightens the soil N balance for about 36 % (33–38 %), although further measures are necessary to reduce the N balance to levels environmentally suitable for agricultural soils.

AB - CONTEXT: Integrating outdoor poultry production with agroforestry promotes both production and animal welfare, but very little data exist on field nitrate leaching and soil nitrogen (N) balances. OBJECTIVE: The objective of the study was to quantify the effect of feed (soybean portion was partly replaced with ‘green’ protein from refined local biomass) and stocking density (low, 6 m2 hen−1, high, 4 m2 hen−1) on nitrate leaching and soil N mass balance (inputs minus outputs) in outdoor poultry systems combined with willow and grass agroforestry on sandy soils. METHODS: The experiment was conducted in “organic” settings in Denmark on coarse sand soil cultivated with perennial grass-clover ley and short-rotation coppice with willow trees. Nitrate leaching was determined from soil nitrate concentrations measured at 1 m depth and water fluxes simulated by the process-based model Daisy for one full hydrological year involving the grazing period of spring-summer-autumn, and the winter and following spring. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: Observed soil nitrate concentrations were considerably lower and less variable in the willow zone compared to the grass zone. Nitrate leaching was significantly lower in the willow (26 ± 14 kg N ha−1) compared to the grass zone (154 ± 28 kg N ha−1). At factor level, nitrate leaching was comparable and marginally lower at low- compared to high stocking density. Feed input and manure output were major N flows in the paddocks, resulting in large surface N balance of 1198–1241 kg N ha−1 at high- and 843–875 kg N ha−1 at low stocking density, the lower end in each range being for the green-protein feed. The soil N balances were 26 % lower than the surface balances and similar between feed factors, yielding 614–634 and 899–906 kg N ha−1 for low and high stocking density, respectively. SIGNIFICANCE: High spatial and temporal variability in nitrate destined for leaching from sandy soils remains challenging to control with short rotation coppiced willow in outdoor poultry paddocks on grass-clover ley. Reducing the stocking density of the hens by 33 % tightens the soil N balance for about 36 % (33–38 %), although further measures are necessary to reduce the N balance to levels environmentally suitable for agricultural soils.

KW - Agroforestry

KW - Daisy

KW - Evapotranspiration

KW - Grass-clover

KW - Nonparametric

KW - Soil nitrate

KW - Vegetation cover

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DO - 10.1016/j.agsy.2024.104149

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VL - 221

JO - Agricultural Systems

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Nitrate leaching and nitrogen balances for integrated willow-poultry organic systems in Denmark

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