Interactions between Cultivars of Legumes Species (Trifolium pratense L., Medicago sativa L.) and Grasses (Phleum pratense L., Lolium perenne L.) Under Different Nitrogen Levels

McElroy, Michel S.; Papadopoulos, Y. A.; Glover, Kathleen E.; Dong, Zhibao; Fillmore, Sherry; Johnston, Mark O.

doi:10.1139/cjps-2016-0130

Cited by 9 publications

(11 citation statements)

References 48 publications

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“…However, in a continental-scale field study with two perennial N 2 -fixing legumes (red clover and white clover) and four perennial grasses (perennial ryegrass, Timothy (Phleum pratense L.), Kentucky bluegrass, and orchardgrass (Dactylis glomerata L.)), it was reported that N gained in mixed swards increased with increasing legume proportion up to 30% [71]. This supports the assertion by [26] that grass N demand in grass-legume mixtures might be more important than legume N supply in determining N transfer efficiency. In an annual garden pea-barley intercropping system, greatest N transfer was obtained in 1:1 garden pea: barley compared to 2:1 system [72].…”

Section: Factors Affecting Nitrogen Transfersupporting

confidence: 75%

“…Compatibility of species grown in mixed swards affects the amount of N 2 fixed and the proportion transferred. A recent study has shown that grass N demand in grass-legume mixtures might be more important than legume N supply in determining N transfer efficiency [26].…”

Section: Factors Affecting Nitrogen Transfermentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In a red clover-grass-forbs mixture, grass relied mostly on fixed N 2 , while forbs relied on soil N [23]. Selecting compatible cultivars (Figure 3) and species may improve N 2 fixation and N 2 transfer in agricultural production systems [26]. For example, the proportion of N 2 derived from BNF was 75-94% in white clover monoculture compared to 85-97% in white clover-ryegrass mixtures [27].…”

Section: Management Considerations For Improving Biological Dinitrogementioning

confidence: 99%

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Nitrogen Fixation and Transfer in Agricultural Production Systems

Islam¹,

Adjesiwor²

2018

Nitrogen in Agriculture - Updates

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There is a consensus within the scientific community that nitrogenous fertilizers are almost indispensable in today's agriculture. However, the geometric increase in nitrogenous fertilizer applications and the associated environmental concerns call for focus on more sustainable alternatives. Biological dinitrogen (N 2 ) fixation (BNF) is one of the most sustainable approaches to meeting crop nitrogen (N) demands. The BNF is, especially, important in low value crops (e.g., forages) and in developing economies. However, just like synthetic N fertilizers, BNF has issues of its own. Among the issues of great importance is the low and highly variable proportion of fixed N 2 transferred to non-N 2 -fixing plants. The proportion of transfer ranges from as low as 0% to as high as 70%, depending on a myriad of factors. Most of the factors (e.g., N fertilizer application, species, and cultivar selection) are management related and can, therefore, be controlled for improved N 2 fixation and transfer. In this chapter, we discuss current trends in BNF in selected legume crops, the global economics of BNF, and recent reports on N 2 transfer in agricultural production systems. Additionally, factors affecting N 2 transfer and management considerations for improving N 2 fixation and transfer are discussed.

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Section: Factors Affecting Nitrogen Transfersupporting

confidence: 75%

Section: Factors Affecting Nitrogen Transfermentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Management Considerations For Improving Biological Dinitrogementioning

confidence: 99%

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Nitrogen Fixation and Transfer in Agricultural Production Systems

Islam¹,

Adjesiwor²

2018

Nitrogen in Agriculture - Updates

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“…Legume-grass mixtures for forage often contain red clover (Trifolium pratense), alfalfa (Medicago sativa), and different grass species adapted to regional conditions (e.g., Braun et al [57], Biewer et al [58], McElroy et al [59], Sleugh et al [60]). The species combination can be adjusted for different environmental conditions and aims, such as aboveground biomass, feed quality, and preceding crop effect (belowground biomass, nitrogen or carbon balance) by varying the shares of grasses and legumes [61].…”

Section: Examples Of Perennial Polyculturesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…A very high proportion of grasses in the mixture exhibits a high carbon capture rate, but results in a poor trade-off with the nitrogen balance, whereas a mixture with a high proportion of legumes in the seed (≥80%) exhibits high carbon capture rates and fixes more nitrogen, up to 540 kg N/ha per year [61]. The N accumulation from the grass component of the mixture is also important for the soil fertility increase, and appears to be influenced more by the grass N demand than the legume N supply [59]. The effects of perennial legume cultivation on the subsequent crops are apparent until the third and fourth year [48,78].…”

Section: Soil Fertilitymentioning

confidence: 99%

Supporting Agricultural Ecosystem Services through the Integration of Perennial Polycultures into Crop Rotations

et al. 2017

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This review analyzes the potential role and long-term effects of field perennial polycultures (mixtures) in agricultural systems, with the aim of reducing the trade-offs between provisioning and regulating ecosystem services. First, crop rotations are identified as a suitable tool for the assessment of the long-term effects of perennial polycultures on ecosystem services, which are not visible at the single-crop level. Second, the ability of perennial polycultures to support ecosystem services when used in crop rotations is quantified through eight agricultural ecosystem services. Legume-grass mixtures and wildflower mixtures are used as examples of perennial polycultures, and compared with silage maize as a typical crop for biomass production. Perennial polycultures enhance soil fertility, soil protection, climate regulation, pollination, pest and weed control, and landscape aesthetics compared with maize. They also score lower for biomass production compared with maize, which confirms the trade-off between provisioning and regulating ecosystem services. However, the additional positive factors provided by perennial polycultures, such as reduced costs for mineral fertilizer, pesticides, and soil tillage, and a significant preceding crop effect that increases the yields of subsequent crops, should be taken into account. However, a full assessment of agricultural ecosystem services requires a more holistic analysis that is beyond the capabilities of current frameworks.

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Legumes increase grassland productivity with no effect on nitrous oxide emissions

et al. 2019

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Aims Grasslands are important agricultural production systems, where ecosystem functioning is affected by land management practices. Grass-legume mixtures are commonly cultivated to increase grassland productivity while reducing the need for nitrogen (N) fertiliser. However, little is known about the effect of this increase in productivity on greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in grass-legume mixtures. The aim of this study was to investigate interactions between the proportion of legumes in grass-legume mixtures and N-fertiliser addition on productivity and GHG emissions. We tested the hypotheses that an increase in the relative proportion of legumes would increase plant productivity and decrease GHG emissions, and the magnitude of these effects would be reduced by N-fertiliser addition. Methods This was tested in a controlled environment mesocosm experiment with one grass and one legume species grown in mixtures in different proportions, with or without N-fertiliser. The effects on N cycling processes were assessed by measurement of aboveand below-ground biomass, shoot N uptake, soil physico-chemical properties and GHG emissions. Results Above-ground productivity and shoot N uptake were greater in legume-grass mixtures compared to grass or legume monocultures, in fertilised and unfertilised soils. However, we found no effect of legume proportion on N 2 O emissions, total soil N or mineral-N in fertilised or unfertilised soils. Conclusions This study shows that the inclusion of legumes in grass-legume mixtures positively affected productivity, however N cycle were in the short-term unaffected and mainly affected by nitrogen fertilisation. Legumes can be used in grassland management strategies to mitigate climate change by reducing crop demand for N-fertilisers.

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Interactions between Cultivars of Legumes Species (Trifolium pratense L., Medicago sativa L.) and Grasses (Phleum pratense L., Lolium perenne L.) Under Different Nitrogen Levels

Cited by 9 publications

References 48 publications

Nitrogen Fixation and Transfer in Agricultural Production Systems

Nitrogen Fixation and Transfer in Agricultural Production Systems

Supporting Agricultural Ecosystem Services through the Integration of Perennial Polycultures into Crop Rotations

Legumes increase grassland productivity with no effect on nitrous oxide emissions

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