Evaluation of Mixed Cropping of Oat and Hairy Vetch as Green Manure for Succeeding Corn Production

Abstract

Legume-grass mixed cropping may alleviate N starvation when incorporated as grass green manure which has a higher C/N ratio than legume manure. We focused on N and P absorption of oat in mixed cropping with hairy vetch, and investigated the effect of the mixed-cropping green manure on the growth and nutrient uptake of the succeeding corn. The total N and total P contents of oat mixed-cropped with hairy vetch were higher than those of sole-cropped oat, and dry weight in addition to N and P contents of oat were greatly increased by cutting mixed-cropped hairy vetch before blooming. Sole cropping of hairy vetch was the best green manure to enhance the growth and nutrient uptake of the succeeding corn crop, but mixed cropping of oat with hairy vetch was also highly effective. Further investigations are needed to determine the long-term effect of mixed cropping green manure on N and P sequestration as soil organic matter.