Abstract

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.

Keywords

Plant diversity; Temporary grassland; Chicory; Ribwort plantain; Caraway; Percentage of N-2-fixation (%Ndfa)

Published in

Plant and Soil
2018, Volume: 424, number: 1-2, pages: 525-537

SLU Authors

• Carlsson, Georg

  • Department of Biosystems and Technology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

UKÄ Subject classification

Agricultural Science


Publication identifier

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-017-3554-9

Permanent link to this page (URI)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/93937