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Research article - Peer-reviewed, 2021

Species Interactions and Nitrogen Use during Early Intercropping of Intermediate Wheatgrass with a White Clover Service Crop

Li, Shoujiao; Jensen, Erik Steen; Liu, Nan; Zhang, Yingjun; Dimitrova Martensson, Linda-Maria

Abstract

Perennial grain crops intercropped with legumes are expected to use nitrogen (N) resources efficiently. A pot experiment using the N-15 isotope dilution method demonstrated interspecific competition and use of N from the soil and N-2 fixation in intermediate wheatgrass (Thinopyrum intermedium (Host) Barkworth & D.R. Dewey, IWG) and white clover (Trifolium repens L., WC) intercrops at five species-relative frequencies and four levels of inorganic N fertilizer in a replacement series design. The proportion of N in WC derived from the atmosphere increased from 39.7% in a sole crop to 70.9% when intercropped with IWG, and 10.1% N in IWG transferred from WC. Intermediate wheatgrass showed high fitness with maintained high total dry matter production at low relative frequencies. Decreasing IWG-relative frequency only increased dry matter and N accumulation of WC, resulting in increased amounts of N-2 fixed. Increased levels of N fertilization increased the proportion of N acquired from the fertilizer in IWG and WC but decreased the N fixed by WC and N absorbed by IWG from the soil. Our study indicates that WC supply sufficient fixed N-2 for IWG intercrop biomass yields under appropriate levels of soil N fertility and species-relative frequencies.

Keywords

symbiotic N-2 fixation; apparent transfer of N; intercropping advantages; interspecific interactions; intermediate wheatgrass; white clover; service crop

Published in

Agronomy
2021, volume: 11, number: 2, article number: 388
Publisher: MDPI

Authors' information

Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Department of Biosystems and Technology
Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Department of Biosystems and Technology
Liu, Nan
China Agricultural University
Zhang, Yingjun
China Agricultural University

Associated SLU-program

Future Agriculture (until Jan 2017)

Sustainable Development Goals

SDG15 Life on land
SDG2 Zero hunger
SDG12 Responsible consumption and production

UKÄ Subject classification

Agricultural Science

Publication Identifiers

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy11020388

URI (permanent link to this page)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/111134