Effects of including forbs on N-2-fixation and N yield in red clover-ryegrass mixtures

Legume biological nitrogen (N-2)-fixation is stimulated by neighbouring non-fixing species, but studies of legume N-2-fixation in temporary grasslands including non-leguminous forage herb (forb) species are rare.We investigated N-2-fixation, N yield, and total herbage production in a range of species mixtures consisting of three forb species-chicory (Cichorium intybus L.), ribwort plantain (Plantago lanceolata L.), and caraway (Carum carvi L.)-mixed into a traditional red clover (Trifolium pratense L.) and perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) mixture at two fertilisation levels.The percentage of red clover N derived from the atmosphere (%Ndfa) was higher in mixtures containing non-legumes than in pure stand but, did not increase with inclusion of forbs. On a whole-seasonal basis, red clover in mixtures derived 90% or more of its N from fixation even when fertilised with 216 kg total N ha(-1). Forbs, in particular chicory, reduced the amount of N-2-fixation and total N yields by affecting the red clover proportion in the harvested biomass.Generally, inclusion of forbs in red clover-ryegrass mixtures had no negative effect on total herbage production and percentage of legume N-2-fixation. However, to maintain a high total N and N-2-fixation yields, mixtures should not include a high seeding proportion of chicory.

Rasmussen, JimAarhus University(Swepub:slu)49886 (författare)
Carlsson, GeorgSwedish University of Agricultural Sciences,Sveriges lantbruksuniversitet,Biosystem och teknologi,Department of Biosystems and Technology(Swepub:slu)48872 (författare)
Aarhus UniversityBiosystem och teknologi (creator_code:org_t)
Sveriges lantbruksuniversitet

Ingår i:Plant and Soil: Springer Science and Business Media LLC424, s. 525-5370032-079X1573-5036

Av författaren/redakt...: Dhamala, Nawa Ra ...; Rasmussen, Jim; Carlsson, Georg

Om ämnet

LANTBRUKSVETENSKAPER: LANTBRUKSVETENSK ...; och Lantbruksvetensk ...; och Jordbruksvetensk ...

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