RESPONSES OF COOL-SEASON GRAIN LEGUMES AND WHEAT TO SOIL-APPLIED ZINC

The yield and zinc (Zn) content response of faba bean (Vicia faba L.), chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.), lentil (Lens culinaris Medik.) and wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) to applications of Zn fertilizer was compared in a glasshouse experiment using two alkaline soils from southwestern Australia. Comparative Zn requirements were determined from yields of 46-day-old dried shoots when no Zn fertilizer was applied, the amount of Zn required to produce the same percentage of the maximum (relative) yield of dried shoots, and the Zn content of dried shoots (Zn concentration multiplied by yield of dried shoots). The concentration of Zn in youngest tissue and in dried shoots was used to determine critical concentrations for Zn in tissue. Faba bean used indigenous soil Zn more effectively than chickpea, followed by wheat and then lentil. The Zn requirement was lowest for faba bean, and increased in the order faba bean < chickpea < wheat < lentil. Zinc concentration in dried youngest tissue and in dried shoots increased with an increase in the amount of added Zn. The critical Zn concentration in the youngest tissue, associated with 90% of the relative yield, was (mg Zn kg^?1): 25 for lentil, 18 for faba bean, 17 for chickpea and 12 for wheat; corresponding values for dried whole tops (mg Zn kg^?1) were: 30 for lentil, 19 for faba bean, 17 for chickpea, and 20 for wheat. Information on comparative responses of the grain legumes to Zn additions relative to wheat, and critical tissue test values, will aid in the fertilizer management of Zn in cool-season grain legumes in the southwestern Australian farming systems.     

添加黏土及植物残体混合物对沙质土壤中呼吸作用和微生物量碳、氮有效性的影响

Crop yields in sandy soils can be increased by addition of clay-rich soil, but little is known about the effect of clay addition on nutrient availability after addition of plant residues with different C/N ratios. A loamy sandy soil(7% clay) was amended with a clay-rich subsoil(73% clay) at low to high rates to achieve soil mixtures of 12%, 22%, and 30% clay, as compared to a control(sandy soil alone) with no clay addition. The sandy-clay soil mixtures were amended with finely ground plant residues at 10 g kg~(-1): mature wheat(Triticum aestivum L.) straw with a C/N ratio of 68, mature faba bean(Vicia faba L.) straw with a C/N ratio of 39, or their mixtures with different proportions(0%–100%, weight percentage) of each straw. Soil respiration was measured over days 0–45 and microbial biomass C(MBC), available N, and p H on days 0, 15, 30, and 45. Cumulative respiration was not clearly related to the C/N ratio of the residues or their mixtures, but C use efficiency(cumulative respiration per unit of MBC on day 15) was greater with faba bean than with wheat and the differences among the residue mixtures were smaller at the highest clay addition rate. The MBC concentration was lowest in sole wheat and higher in residue mixtures with 50% of wheat and faba bean in the mixture or more faba bean. Soil N availability and soil p H were lower for the soil mixtures of 22% and 30% clay compared to the sandy soil alone. It could be concluded that soil cumulative respiration and MBC concentration were mainly influenced by residue addition, whereas available N and p H were influenced by clay addition to the sandy soil studied.     

Comparing Copper Requirements of Faba Bean,Chickpea, and Lentil with Spring Wheat

Abstract

The copper (Cu) requirement of four crop species was measured in a glasshouse experiment using yield of dried shoots and Cu content (Cu concentration multiplied by yield of dried shoots) of 62 day old plants grown in two different alkaline soils. The species compared were faba bean (Vicia faba L. cv. Fiord), chickpea (Cicer arietinum L. cv. Tyson), lentil (Lens culinaris Medik cv. Digger), and spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L. cv. Stretton). The comparative Cu requirement of the species was determined from yields of dried shoots when no Cu fertilizer was applied, the amount of applied Cu required to produce the same percentage of the maximum (relative) yield of dried shoots, and the Cu content of dried shoots. The concentration of Cu in youngest tissue and in dried shoots was used to determine critical concentrations of Cu in tissue associated with 90% of the maximum yield. Faba bean used indigenous soil Cu more effectively than wheat, followed by chickpea and then lentil. As measured using both shoot yield and Cu content in shoots, the Cu requirement was lowest for faba bean, and increased in the order faba bean < wheat < chickpea < lentil. Copper concentration in dried youngest tissue and in dried shoots increased with an increase in the amount of added Cu. The critical Cu concentration in the youngest tissue was (mg Cu/kg): 4.6 for lentil, 2.6 for chickpea, 1.5 for wheat, and 2.8 for faba bean; corresponding values for dried shoots (mg Cu/kg) were 6.3 for lentil, 3.3 for chickpea, 2.8 for wheat, and 3.0 for faba bean.     

Wheat response to N2 fixed by faba bean (Vicia faba L.) as affected by sulfur fertilization and rhizobial inoculation in semi‐arid Northern Ethiopia

Nitrogen fixation in faba bean (Vicia faba cv. Mesay) as affected by sulfur (S) fertilization (30 kg S ha^–1) and inoculation under the semi‐arid conditions of Ethiopia was studied using the ¹⁵N‐isotope dilution method. The effect of faba bean–fixed nitrogen (N) on yield of the subsequent wheat crop (Triticum aestivum L.) was also assessed. Sulfur fertilization and inoculation significantly (p < 0.05) affected nodulation at late flowering stage for both 2004 and 2005 cropping seasons. The nodule number and nodule fresh weighs were increased by 53% and 95%, relative to the control. Similarly, both treatments (S fertilization and inoculants) significantly improved biomass and grain yield of faba bean on average by 2.2 and 1.2 Mg ha^–1. This corresponds to 37% and 50% increases, respectively, relative to the control. Total N and S uptake of grains was significantly higher by 59.6 and 3.3 kg ha^–1, which are 76% and 66% increases, respectively. Sulfur and inoculation enhanced the percentage of N derived from the atmosphere in the whole plant of faba bean from 51% to 73%. This corresponds to N₂ fixation varying from 49 to 147 kg N ha^–1. The percentage of N derived from fertilizer (%Ndff) and soil (%Ndfs) of faba bean varied from 4.3% to 2.8 %, and from 45.1% to 24.0%, corresponding to the average values of 5.1 and 47.9 kg N ha^–1. Similarly, the %Ndff and %Ndfs of the reference crop, barley, varied from 8.5 % to 10.8% and from 91.5% to 89.2%, with average N yields of 9.2 and 84.3 kg N ha^–1. Soil N balance after faba bean ranged from 13 to 52 kg N ha^–1. Beneficial effects of faba bean on yield of a wheat crop grown after faba bean were highly significant, increasing the average grain and N yields of this crop by 1.11 Mg ha^–1 and 30 kg ha^–1, relative to the yield of wheat grown after the reference crop, barley. Thus, it can be concluded that faba bean can be grown as an alternative crop to fallow, benefiting farmers economically and increasing the soil fertility.     

Grain legume pre-crops and their residues affect the growth, P uptake and size of P pools in the rhizosphere of the following wheat

Legumes have been shown to increase P uptake of the following cereal, but the underlying mechanisms are unclear. The aim of this study was to compare the effect of legume pre-crops and their residues on the growth, P uptake and size of soil P pools in the rhizosphere of the following wheat. Three grain legumes (faba bean, chickpea and white lupin) were grown until maturity in loamy sand soil with low P availability to which 80?mg P kg^?1 was supplied. This pre-crop soil was then amended with legume residues or left un-amended and planted with wheat. The growth, P uptake and concentrations of P pools in the rhizosphere of the following wheat were measured 6?weeks after sowing. In a separate experiment, residue decomposition was measured over 42?days by determining soil CO₂ release as well as available N and P. Decomposition rates were highest for chickpea residues and lowest for wheat residues. P release was greatest from white lupin residues and N release was greatest from faba bean residues, while wheat residues resulted in net N and P immobilisation. The growth of the following wheat was greater in legume pre-crop soil without residue than in soils with residue addition, while the reverse was true for plant P concentration. Among the legumes, faba bean had the strongest effect on growth, P uptake and concentrations of the rhizosphere P pools of the following wheat. Regardless of the pre-crop and residue treatment, wheat depleted the less labile pools residual P as well as NaOH-Pi and Po, with a stronger depletion of the organic pool. We conclude that although P in the added residues may become available during decomposition, the presence of the residues in the soil had a negative effect on the growth of the following wheat. Further, pre-crops or their residues had little effect on the size of P pools in the rhizosphere of wheat.     

Legume residue influence arbuscular mycorrhizal colonisation and P uptake by wheat

Legumes have been shown to increase growth and P uptake of the following cereal. This could, in part, be due to nutrients released by the decomposing legume residues. To investigate the effect of P added with legume residues on wheat growth, P uptake and arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) colonisation, a number of experiments were conducted with different legume residues added to a soil with low P availability under conditions in which N was not limiting. Young and mature faba bean shoots (FYS, FMS) and mature chickpea shoots (CP) were added to soil at different rates (0.5–2%, w/w) with the P concentration being the greatest in the young faba bean shoots and least in the mature chickpea residues. Other treatments included addition of inorganic P at different rates (0–80 mg P kg⁻¹). Available P, growth and P uptake and AM colonisation of wheat were measured after 6 weeks. As expected, inorganic P addition increased growth and P uptake but decreased AM colonisation. The effect of the residues was more complex. AM colonisation was not correlated with available P in the soil amended with residues, whereas there was significant negative correlation between available P and AM colonisation in the treatments with inorganic P. Addition of FYS increased wheat shoot growth and P uptake and decreased AM colonisation. However, FMS and CP addition not only decreased wheat growth and P uptake but also AM colonisation despite low soil P availability. It is concluded that addition of some legume residues can improve the growth of subsequent cereals, but others have a negative effect on wheat growth and AM colonisation which cannot be explained solely by soil P availability.     

Nodulation and root growth increase in lower soil layers of water‐limited faba bean intercropped with wheat

Below‐ground niche complementarity in legume–cereal intercrops may improve resource use efficiency and root adaptability to environmental constraints. However, the effect of water limitation on legume rooting and nodulation patterns in intercropping is poorly understood. To advance our knowledge of mechanisms involved in water‐limitation response, faba bean (Vicia faba L.) and wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) were grown as mono‐ and intercrops in soil‐filled plexiglass rhizoboxes under water sufficiency (80% of water‐holding capacity) and water limitation (30% of water‐holding capacity). We examined whether intercropping facilitates below‐ground niche complementarity under water limitation via interspecific root stratification coupled with modified nodulation patterns. While no significant treatment effects were measured in intercropped wheat growth parameters, water limitation induced a decrease in shoot and root biomass of monocropped wheat. Likewise, shoot biomass and height, and root length of monocropped faba bean significantly decreased under water limitation. Conversely, water limitation stimulated root biomass of intercropped faba bean in the lower soil layer (15–30 cm soil depth). Similarly, total nodule number of faba bean roots as well as nodule number in the lower soil layer increased under intercropping regardless of water availability. Under water limitation, intercropping also led to a significant increased nodule biomass (48%) in the lower soil layer as compared to monocropping. The enhanced nodulation in the lower soil layer and the associated increase in root and shoot growth provides evidence for a shift in niche occupancy when intercropped with wheat, which improves water‐limited faba bean performance.     

Nodulation and N2 fixation of faba bean (Vicia faba L.) after soil amendment with crop residues

The effect of prior soil amendment with different N sources at 50 mg N (kg soil)^—1 on nodulation and N₂ fixation of faba bean (Vicia faba L. cv. Troy) using wheat (Triticum aestivum L. cv. Star) as reference crop was assessed in a pot experiment. Four treatments viz legume manure (LEGM) as clover shoots, cereal manure (CEREM) as barley straw, N fertilizer (FERT‐N) as Ca(NO₃)₂, and no‐manure control (NOMAN) were investigated consecutively at 45, 70, and 90 days after sowing (DAS). Faba bean nodulated profusely, with an increase on average from 629 nodules per pot at 45 DAS to nearly 2.3‐ and 3.3‐fold at 70 and 90 DAS, respectively. Low nodule numbers and nodule dry matter occurred under FERT‐N and CEREM, whereas high values were found for NOMAN and LEGM. Soil amendment affected percent N₂ fixation in relation to N source and plant age. Highest percent N₂ fixation (≥ 90 %) was found under the lowest N‐supplying amendments, no‐manure, and cereal manure, respectively. FERT‐N depressed N₂ fixation particularly at 45 DAS when N₂ fixation was reduced to as low as 23 %. The rise in N₂ fixation thereafter suggests that faba bean adjusted after depletion of mineral N in the soil. N₂ fixation was also decreased after cereal straw application, even though N concentration in faba bean plants was high. The results indicate that plant residues, both with high and low N concentration, applied to soil to raise its fertility may interfere with N₂ fixation of faba bean.     

Biological nitrogen fixation in faba bean (Vicia faba L.) in the Ethiopian highlands as affected by P fertilization and inoculation

 N₂ fixation by leguminous crops is a relatively low-cost alternative to N fertilizer for small-holder farmers in developing countries. N₂ fixation in faba bean (Vicia faba L.) as affected by P fertilization (0 and 20 kg P ha^–1) and inoculation (uninoculated and inoculated) with Rhizobium leguminosarium biovar viciae (strain S-18) was studied using the ¹⁵N isotope dilution method in the southeastern Ethiopian highlands at three sites differing in soil conditions and length of growing period. Nodulation at the late flowering stage was significantly influenced by P and inoculation only at the location exhibiting the lowest soil P and pH levels. The percentage of N derived from the atmosphere ranged from 66 to 74%, 58 to 74% and 62 to 73% with a corresponding total amount of N₂ fixed ranging from 169 to 210 kg N ha^–1, 139 to 184 kg N ha^–1 and 147 to 174 kg N ha^–1 at Bekoji, Kulumsa and Asasa, respectively. The total N₂ fixed was not significantly affected by P fertilizer or inoculation across all locations, and there was no interaction between the factors. However, at all three locations, N₂ fixation was highly positively correlated with the dry matter production and total N yield of faba bean. Soil N balances after faba bean were positive (12–58 kg N ha^–1) relative to the highly negative N balances (–9–44 kg N ha^–1) following wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), highlighting the importance of rotation with faba bean in the cereal-based cropping systems of Ethiopia. Received: 13 January 2000     

Roller-Crimper Termination for Legume Cover Crops in North Carolina: Impacts on Nutrient Availability to a Succeeding Corn Crop

Nitrogen (N) release from roll-killed legume cover crops was determined for hairy vetch (Vicia villosa Roth), crimson clover (Trifolium incarnatum L.), and a hairy vetch + rye (Secale cereale L.) biculture in an organic corn production system in North Carolina, USA. Cover crops were planted at two locations in fall 2008 and 2009, roll-killed in May, and no-till planted with corn (Zea mays L.). Inorganic soil N and mineral N flux were determined using potassium chloride (KCl) extractions and ion-exchange resin (Plant Root Simulator, PRS) probes at 2-week intervals for 12 weeks and compared to fertilized controls of 0 and 168 kg N ha^?1. In 2009, greater plant available N under hairy vetch than under either 0 N control or crimson clover was found, with peak soil N occurring between 4 and 6 weeks after roll kill. Available soil N under crimson clover mulches was less than or equal to 0 N, suggesting net immobilization.     

Complementary resource use in intercropped faba bean and cabbage by increased root growth and nitrogen use in organic production

Intercropping can improve yield and nitrogen use efficiency in organic vegetable production by pairing crops with complementary resource use. An intercrop field experiment was conducted to determine yield, root growth and nitrogen (N) dynamics using faba bean (Vicia faba L.) grown as a vegetable and pointed cabbage (Brassica oleracea var. capitata cv. conica). Both crops were grown in monocropping (MC) and intercropping systems (IC). Minirhizotrons were used to measure root growth. Yield of pointed cabbage per metre row was 28% higher under the IC system than under MC, whereas faba bean yield as fresh seeds did not differ. The land equivalent ratio was 1.06, showing that improved yield under IC resulted from efficient land resource use. Even though MC cabbage had the highest aboveground biomass, total N accumulation was higher under IC and MC faba bean systems. Both root frequency and intensity were greater under IC faba bean rows compared with MC faba bean because of the presence of cabbage roots in faba bean rows. Monocropped cabbage had the highest root intensity and the lowest amount of soil mineral N in the 0–1.5 m depth after harvest. Monocropped cabbage was efficient in assimilating N, whereas MC faba bean was efficient in exporting N as harvestable yield. The nitrogen use efficiency using the IC system (75%) was higher than growing faba bean (44%) and cabbage (65%) alone. Thus, faba bean as an intercrop in organic cabbage production systems improves land and N use efficiency by complementary root growth.     

Nitrogen yield and nitrogen fixation of winter faba beans

Introducing autumn-sown legumes into Central European farming systems could be beneficial for addressing two challenges for European agriculture, i.e., the substantial deficit of protein sources for livestock and expected changes in agroclimatic conditions. Therefore, a two-year field experiment was conucted under Pannonian climate conditions in eastern Austria to assess nitrogen (N) yield and N fixation of several winter faba bean varieties from different European countries as compared to a spring faba bean. Winter wheat was used as a reference crop for estimating atmospheric N fixation. Winter faba beans were susceptible to frost damage especially in the harder of the two winters. Winter faba bean varieties could not achieve a higher grain yield and a higher grain N yield than the spring faba bean but had a higher grain N concentration (except for one variety). Grain yield and grain N yield of faba beans were severely impaired by drought in one year (with a mean of varieties of 8.3 g N m^?2, winter wheat: 6.4 g N m^?2); in the other year, grain N yield of faba beans considerably surpassed that of winter wheat (with a mean of varieties of 21.5 g N m^?2, winter wheat: 8.8 g N m^?2). After harvest, faba beans left higher nitrate residues in the soil, especially in the subsoil, and higher amounts of N in above-ground residues compared to winter wheat. Faba beans showed high N fixation under optimum conditions (with a mean of varieties of 21.9 g N m^?2) whereas drought considerably impaired N fixation (with a mean of varieties of 6.3 g N m^?2; with no differences between autumn- and spring-sown faba beans). In conclusion, growing winter faba bean varieties in eastern Austria did not result in higher grain yield, grain N yield, and N fixation compared to growing a spring faba bean.     

施氮量和蚕豆/玉米间作对土壤无机氮时空分布的影响

在田间条件下于2006—2007年研究了不同氮水平下（N 0、75、150、225、300 kg/hm2）蚕豆/玉米间作体系与其相应单作体系土壤无机氮的时空分布规律,旨在为河西走廊灌区蚕豆/玉米间作体系的氮素管理提供理论依据。用土钻法采集土壤剖面样品,CaCl2浸提,流动分析仪测定土壤无机氮的方法研究了施氮量和蚕豆/玉米种间相互作用对土壤无机氮时间和空间变化特点。结果表明:灌漠土无机氮以NO3--N为主。蚕豆和玉米无机氮含量在蚕豆收获前种植方式间均无显著性差异,蚕豆收获后至玉米收获,间作显著降低了两种作物各层无机氮含量;无机氮含量随着施氮量增加而显著增加。蚕豆收获后间作体系0—100 cm土层无机氮累积量略高于单作体系,且0—100 cm 土层无机氮累积量高于100—160 cm土层;玉米收获后,间作蚕豆和玉米土壤无机氮累积量在0—100 cm土层分别平均降低了51.7%和16.6%,在100—160 cm土层平均降低了42.1%和6.1%;与不施氮相比,施氮蚕豆和玉米无机氮累积量在0—100 cm土层分别平均增加了40.1%和81.5%,在100—160 cm土层分别增加了69.6%和40.6%;与单作体系相比,间作体系0—100 和100—160 cm土层土壤无机氮分别降低43.4%和34.1%。因此,施氮肥显著增加土壤无机氮的累积,而豆科/禾本科间作减少了土壤无机氮的残留。     

Influences of intercropping and nitrogen supply on flavonoid exudation in wheat roots

Abstract

Soil and hydroponic experiments were carried out to examine the influences of intercropping and nitrogen supply on flavonoid exudation in wheat roots. Both experiments comprising three cropping patterns (wheat intercropped with faba bean, monocropped wheat, and monocropped faba bean) and three N supply levels (deficient, adequate, and excessive) with three replicates in a randomized complete block design. Across two experiments, intercropping increased but N fertilization decreased flavonoids of wheat roots frequently. Intercropping variably increased secretion of naringenin from 0.5 to 1.9 folds (P?<?0.5) in wheat roots at all three N levels, but rarely increased secretion of genistein and hesperetin in wheat at the deficient N level. Intercropped wheat secreted more flavonoids than monocropped wheat at its tillering (60^th d) and flowering (95^th d) stages; after the flowering stage, however, the differences between intercropping and monocropping were not significant at any N level. Secretion of flavonoids in wheat roots decreased with increased N supply. Interspecies and N supply altered the contents and proportions of flavonoids in wheat root exudations under wheat and faba bean intercropping. These results indicate facilitative root–root interactions and provide insight into cereal promote nodule of legume in intercropping system.     

Cover crop nitrogen availability to conventional and no‐till corn: Soil mineral nitrogen,corn nitrogen status,and corn yield

Abstract

Understanding seasonal soil nitrogen (N) availability patterns is necessary to assess corn (Zea mays L.) N needs following winter cover cropping. Therefore, a field study was initiated to track N availability for corn in conventional and no‐till systems and to determine the accuracy of several methods for assessing and predicting N availability for corn grown in cover crop systems. The experimental design was a systematic split‐split plot with fallow, hairy vetch (Vicia villosa Roth), rye (Secale cereale L.), wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), rye+hairy vetch, and wheat+hairy vetch established as main plots and managed for conventional till and no‐till corn (split plots) to provide a range of soil N availability. The split‐split plot treatment was sidedressed with fertilizer N to give five N rates ranging from 0–300 kg N ha^‐1 in 75 kg N ha^‐1 increments. Soil and corn were sampled throughout the growing season in the 0 kg N ha^‐1 check plots and corn grain yields were determined in all plots. Plant‐available N was greater following cover crops that contained hairy vetch, but tillage had no consistent affect on N availability. Corn grain yields were higher following hairy vetch with or without supplemental fertilizer N and averaged 11.6 Mg ha^‐1 and 9.9 Mg ha^‐1 following cover crops with and without hairy vetch, respectively. All cover crop by tillage treatment combinations responded to fertilizer N rate both years, but the presence of hairy vetch seldom reduced predicted fertilizer N need. Instead, hairy vetch in monoculture or biculture seemed to add to corn yield potential by an average of about 1.7 Mg ha^‐1 (averaged over fertilizer N rates). Cover crop N contributions to corn varied considerably, likely due to cover crop N content and C:N ratio, residue management, climate, soil type, and the method used to assess and assign an N credit. The pre‐sidedress soil nitrate test (PSNT) accurately predicted fertilizer N responsive and N nonresponsive cover crop‐corn systems, but inorganic soil N concentrations within the PSNT critical inorganic soil N concentration range were not detected in this study.     

Dry Weight and Nitrogen Content of Chickpea and Winter Wheat Grown in Pots for Three Rotations

ABSTRACT

Chickpea [Cicer arietinum (L.)] cultivars ‘ICCV-2’ and ‘Sarah’ were studied along with a control, multistrain, TAL 1148, and TAL 480 Bradyrhizobium strains to determine the effect(s) of cultivar and inoculum on dry weight (DW) and nitrogen (N) content of the legume, as well as soil mineral N, DW, and N content of wheat [Triticum aestivum (L.) emend. Thell.] in a continuous wheat-legume rotation. Chickpeas were planted during the summer and harvested in the fall of 1992, 1993, and 1994. Vegetative growth from chickpeas was incorporated into the soil prior to wheat planting, and soil cores were taken at 35 to 48 d after chickpea harvests. Additional summer fallow treatments for the winter wheat part of the experiment received 0, 45, and 90 kg N ha^?1 each year. Wheat plants were removed the following spring and stubble was incorporated into the soil before planting chickpeas in the summer. ‘Sarah’ chickpeas accumulated about the same or more shoot DW and shoot N compared to ‘ICCV-2’; whereas ‘ICCV-2’ generally produced more pod DW and pod N compared to ‘Sarah.’ Inoculum had no significant effect on chickpea DW or N content. Wheat DW and N following legumes increased marginally after growing ‘Sarah’ chickpeas, as evidenced by higher values of some treatments. Only the multistrain or absence of inoculum in ‘Sarah’ chickpeas resulted in significantly greater wheat DW or N content compared to the fallow wheat receiving no added N fertilizer. The contributions from ‘ICCV-2’ chickpeas to wheat DW and N content were not significant. Soil mineral N, as well as wheat DW and N content, fluctuated or increased during this three-year study, which demonstrated some benefit from incorporation of chickpeas into a wheat-legume cropping system.     

NITROGEN UPTAKE AND RECOVERY FROM N FERTILIZER AND LEGUME CROPS IN WETLAND RICE MEASURED BY 15N AND NON-ISOTOPE TECHNIQUES

Intensive rice-based cropping systems rely on nitrogenous fertilizer for optimum grain production and legume crops could be used as an alternative nitrogen (N) source for rice. We investigated the fate of N applied to dual cropping wetland rice in the form of legume residue and ¹⁵N labeled fertilizer. In 2001–2002, hairy vetch and broad bean accumulated 131 and 352 kg N ha^?1 of which 41 and 78% was derived from N₂ fixation. In 2002–2003, hairy vetch accumulated 64 kg N ha^?1 and broad bean accumulated 320 kg N ha^?1 of which 21 to 24% was derived from hairy vetch and 31 to 82% N was derived from broad bean by N difference and ¹⁵N-natural abundance method. Our results reveal that hairy vetch and broad bean can supply 50–100% of N required for intensive wetland rice and can be a viable alternative N source to enhance soil fertility.     

Organic fertilizers derived from plant materials Part I: Turnover in soil at low and moderate temperatures

The aim was to investigate different organic fertilizers derived from plant materials with respect to their nitrogen and carbon turnover in soil in comparison with organic fertilizers derived from animal‐waste products. In a 64‐day incubation study at 5°C and 15°C, the following fertilizers were used: coarse faba bean–seed meal (Vicia faba L.), coarse meals of yellow and white lupin seeds (Lupinus albus L. and Lupinus luteus L.), Phytoperls^® (waste products of maize [Zea mays L.] processing), coarse meal of castor cake (Ricinus communis L.) as a widely used organic fertilizer, and horn meal as a reference fertilizer‐derived from animal waste products. At 15°C, horn meal showed the highest apparent net N mineralization of fertilizer‐derived N, followed by castor cake and the two lupin meals. At 5°C, apparent net N mineralization of fertilizer‐derived N from horn meal and coarse meal of yellow lupin seeds was nearly identical, followed by castor‐cake meal. Net N mineralization from legume‐seed meals showed no or even a negative temperature response, at least temporarily. In contrast, the other fertilizers showed a positive temperature response of net N mineralization. The content in recalcitrant structural components and the decoupling of decomposition of N‐rich and C‐rich tissue components in time are discussed as controlling factors of fertilizer‐N turnover at low temperature. Microbial residues seem to be an important temporary sink of fertilizer‐derived C and N. Legume‐seed meals induced considerable N‐priming effects. Temperature induced differences in the decomposition of total fertilizer C, indicated by changes in the sum of cumulative CO₂‐C evolution, total K₂SO₄‐soluble organic C and microbial‐biomass C were much smaller than indicated by cumulative CO₂‐C evolution alone. Our results indicate that legume‐seed meals have the potential to replace horn meal and castor‐cake meal in organic vegetable production, especially when soil temperatures in early spring are still low.     

Effect of starter fertilizer in seed-row on emergence,biomass and nutrient uptake by six pulse crops grown under controlled environment conditions

Abstract

Legumes have a unique ability to obtain a significant portion of atmospheric nitrogen (N₂) through a symbiotic relationship with Rhizobia spp of bacteria but it takes time, thus, an early supply of N to the plant may positively influence growth and development. However, too much fertilizer in close proximity to the seed can damage the seedling. Therefore, this study was conducted to determine the maximum safe rates for starter seed-row fertilizer application under low seedbed utilization conditions (15%). Emergence, biomass yield and nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and sulfur (S) uptake responses to starter fertilizer products and blends applied at 0, 10, 20 and 30?kg?N?ha^?1 in the seed-row were investigated for six different pulse crops: soybean, pea, faba bean, black bean, lentil and chickpea. The general sensitivity (injury potential) for starter N, P, S fertilizer was lentil?≥?pea?≥?chickpea?>?soybean?≥?black bean?>?faba bean. Lentil, pea and chickpea could generally only tolerate the 10?kg?N?ha^?1 rates while soybean and black bean could tolerate 10–20?kg?N?ha^?1. Faba bean emergence appeared relatively unaffected by all three rates of N and showed least sensitivity to seed row placed fertilizer. In terms of 30-day biomass response, soybean and black bean were most responsive to fertilization, while pea, faba bean, lentil and chickpea were least responsive to the starter fertilizer applications, with no benefit increasing above the 10?kg?N?ha^?1 rate.     

Nitrogen turnover of legume seed meals as affected by seed meal texture and quality at different temperatures

The aim was to investigate how legume seed meal texture and corresponding quality affects N turnover at different temperatures. Therefore, the effect of size fractionation ‘fine’ and ‘coarse’ of seed meals of yellow lupin (Lupinus luteus L.), blue lupin (Lupinus angustifolius L.) and faba bean (Vicia faba L.) on net N mineralization and turnover was investigated in an incubation experiment at 5°C, 12°C and 20°C. The differences in N release from the two particle size fractions could not be detected at 12 and 20°C incubation temperature. Moreover, net N mineralization at 5°C was higher during incubation of the coarse particle size fractions than during incubation of the fine fraction. In contrast to the common understanding of temperature dependence of microbial processes, the overall influence of incubation temperature on net N mineralization was less expressed. The formation of microbial biomass was highest at 5°C. The subsequent decrease of soil microbial biomass was only partly reflected by net N mineralization suggesting the formation of microbial residues as a preliminary N sink. The control of the N release from legume seed meals seems to be dominated by the N-immobilizing effects of polyphenols at lower temperatures and of C-rich polymers (hemicelluloses) at higher temperatures.