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The Effect of High Yielding Perennial Herbage Crops on Biological Degradation and Nitrate Accumulation in Peat Soil

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  03 October 2008

D. Levanon ,
I. Levin ,
T. Kipnis  and
U. Cohen
D. Levanon
Affiliation:
MIGAL, Kiryat Shmona, 10200, Israel
I. Levin
Affiliation:
Institute for Soils and Water, ARO Volcani Centre, Bet-Dagan, Israel
T. Kipnis
Affiliation:
Institute for Soils and Water, ARO Volcani Centre, Bet-Dagan, Israel
U. Cohen
Affiliation:
Institute for Soils and Water, ARO Volcani Centre, Bet-Dagan, Israel
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Summary

Perennial crops, guinea grass and alfalfa, and annual crops, wheat and cotton, were grown in the reclaimed Hula Valley swamp. The aim was to find ways to preserve the peat soil from aerobic oxidation, wind and water erosion; to minimize nitrate accumulation, which causes pollution of the waters draining into the Kinneret Lake (Sea of Galilee); and to select high yielding crops that both fulfilled these needs and ensured a good income for the farmers. Our results showed that high dry matter yields of guinea grass and alfalfa could be obtained. A significant decrease in peat soil erosion and nitrate accumulation was also recorded under these perennial crops, so growing them has both economic and ecological advantages.

Type
Research Article
Information
Experimental Agriculture , Volume 23 , Issue 1 , January 1987 , pp. 69 - 74
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1987

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References

REFERENCES

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