The role of cover crops in irrigated systems: Water balance, nitrate leaching and soil mineral nitrogen accumulation

Using cover crops (CC) in semiarid irrigated areas is often limited by low nutrient and water-use efficiency. This work was conducted over 3.5 years to determine the effect on NO3− leaching, water balance and soil mineral N accumulation of replacing fallow with CC in irrigated systems. Treatments studied during the maize (Zea mays L.) intercrop period were: barley (Hordeum vulgare L.), vetch (Vicia villosa L.) and fallow. Soil water content was monitored daily to a depth of 1.3 m and used with the numerical model WAVE to describe the water balance. Determination of crop canopy parameters was based on digital image analysis, and root depth in capacitance sensor readings. Nitrate leaching was calculated multiplying drainage by the soil solution nitrate concentration. Soil mineral N was determined before sowing CC and maize. Over the study, cumulative nitrate leaching in the fallow, vetch, and barley was 346, 245, and 129 kg N-NO3− ha−1, respectively; occurring more than 77% during the intercrop period. In dry winters, NO3− accumulated in the topsoil, and CC controlled the NO3− leaching during the initial maize growth stages. Vetch was less efficient than barley at controlling leaching, but enhanced soil N retention. The CC controlled NO3− leaching and recycled N inside the cropping system.

► Cover crops reduced nitrate leaching in irrigated systems.
► More than 77% of nitrate leaching occurred during the intercrop period.
► Vetch, less efficient than barley at controlling leaching, enhanced soil N retention.
► Cover crops recycled N inside the cropping system.
► Coupling field data and model efforts allowed quantification of water and N balance components.