Comparative Analysis of the Nitrogen Effect of Common Agricultural Practices and Rotation Systems in a Rainfed Mediterranean Environment

Abstract

The nitrogen (N) effect of legumes is one of the main reasons for their inclusion in rotation systems and their success in rainfed agriculture of Mediterranean areas. The comparative analysis of this effect in relation to alternative systems or practices is essential for a comprehensive appreciation in their merit. This field experiment was comprised of four three-year rotation cycles. Wheat (Triticum turgidum durum) was seeded for two consecutive years after common vetch (Vicia sativa L.), treated in three different ways, and after fallow and compared with three wheat monocultures: the conventional one, the continuous straw incorporation, and the sewage sludge incorporation once every three years. Wheat grain and straw yields and N uptake were compared among treatments. Results showed that rotation systems that included vetch were the most promising for improving sustainability. Maximum N uptake and the greatest yield surpluses were obtained when wheat followed vetch incorporated during flowering. When vetch in the rotation was cut for hay or left to fill grains subsequent wheat showed also enhanced yields. Fallow affected the rotation system’s fertility due to the incorporation of volunteer plants into the soil. Sewage sludge sustained production without the need for inorganic fertilization during three years. Straw incorporation always gave the smallest yields and N harvests, presumably due to soil N immobilization.

Transcriptome Profiling Reveals Molecular Responses to Salt Stress in Common Vetch (Vicia sativa L.)

“…Common vetch (Vicia sativa L.) is an important annual diploid leguminous forage for animal feed due to its high yield, high leaf crude protein, and high digestibility [10]. It is Plants 2024, 13, 714 2 of 20 also cultivated as a cover crop in sustainable agricultural systems to decrease the use of fertilizers and reduce CO 2 emissions due to its capacity to fix atmospheric nitrogen through a symbiotic interaction with rhizobia in soils [11]. Moreover, the seeds of common vetch are considered a new starch and sustainable food source for humans due to their high quantity of starch and crude proteins [12,13].…”

Designing Novel Strategies for Improving Old Legumes: An Overview from Common Vetch

“…The common vetch (Vicia sativa L., Tribe Viciae, Family Fabaceae ) is one of the world’s most economically important annual grain legumes, used as animal feed, as forage (grain, hay, and for silage production) or as grain legume as a cheap and rich source of protein and minerals of high digestibility and high energy content [ 1 , 2 ]. Additionally, vetch fixes atmospheric nitrogen through its symbiotic interactions with rhizobia soil bacteria, which could improve the soil fertility significantly, making its cultivation appropriate in sustainable agriculture, as a main crop, as an element of rainfed rotation, as a cover crop, or in rotation with cereals [ 3 ] by decreasing the use of fertilizers and reducing CO 2 emissions and other pollutants [ 4 ]. The main bottleneck of this species is the presence of antinutritional factors in various parts of the plant, but the enormous dependence on proteins of vegetable origin for animal feed and the interest in the EU for the use of species of environmental value make the use of this crop a relevant agricultural option with an essential role in the implementation of environmental measures such as From Farm to Fork Strategy and the new Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) directive.…”

Incorporating the pedigree information in multi-environment trial analyses for improving common vetch

“…For example, it is beneficial for controlling grass weeds and it is used as a disease break of cereals ( Pala et al., 2000 ; Mariotti et al., 2006 ; Vasilakoglou et al., 2008 ). Additionally, its symbiosis with rhizobia ensures the fixing of atmospheric nitrogen in the soil resulting in a reduction in the applications of nitrogen fertilizers, higher soil fertility ( Unkovich et al., 1997 ; Zhang et al., 2021 ), and subsequent increased yield in crops sown after vetch has been harvested or incorporated ( Dalias and Neocleous, 2017 ; Wang et al., 2021 ).…”