Effets des cultures intercalaires dans le maïs-grain, sur le rendement en grain, la qualité édaphique, et la teneur en azote inorganique des sols

• Main Author: Claude, Pierre-Phillippe
• Format: Others
• Language: en
• Published: McGill University 1990
• Subjects: Companion planting.; Corn > Yields.; Alfalfa.; Red clover.; Ryegrasses.
• Online Access: http://digitool.Library.McGill.CA:80/R/?func=dbin-jump-full&object_id=74544

The objectives of the study were to determine whether intercropped alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.), red clover (Trifolium pratense L.) or rye grass (Lolium multiflorum Lmk.) could simultaneously contribute to the nitrogen regime of grain-corn (ie: increased yield), improve edaphic quality, and decrease the level of inorganic nitrogen present in the soil after corn harvest. To achieve these objectives the seeding of the intercrops was delayed, the corn population was increased, and the red clover was spring-ploughed. === Fall-ploughed red clover maintained the mean weight diameter (MWD) of aggregates on the Ste-Rosalie clay. Spring-ploughed red clover on the other hand caused a decrease in bulk density in the top 10 cm of the Chicot loam. === The nitrogen-response of corn indicated that the intercrops did not contribute to the nitrogen regime of grain-corn. There were also indications that intercrops competed with corn for available inorganic nitrogen and water. The intercrops, however, did reduce the levels of soil inorganic nitrogen in the fall allowing for a possible decrease in the nitrogen load of soil percolates. === Despite the beneficial effect of nitrogen fertilisation on the organic nitrogen content of the soil, the presence of leguminous intercrops did not prevent the increase of the soil CN ratio.