Winter turnip rape, a Nordic catch crop that recycles nitrogen and decreases nitrate pollution

A catch crop is a crop planted between two regular crops grown in successive seasons or between two rows of crops in the same season. Catch crops are used in particular to reduce soil erosion and fertiliser leaching that occur when the soil surface is not planted. For instance nitrogen catch crops feed on nitrates and thus recycle soil nitrogen and decrease water pollution by nitrates. Catch crops are therefore a way to reduce the use of costly fertilisers. Tuulos et al. show that winter turnip rape, an oilseed crucifer, is an effective nitrogen catch crop adapted to the Nordic climate.

 

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