Tillage system effect on nitrogen rhizodeposited by faba bean and chickpea |
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Authors: | Luis López-Bellido Jorge Benítez-Vega Purificación García Ramón Redondo Rafael J López-Bellido |
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Institution: | 1. Departamento de Ciencias y Recursos Agrícolas y Forestales, University of Córdoba, Campus de Rabanales, Edificio C-4 “Celestino Mutis”, Ctra. Madrid Km 396, 14071 Córdoba, Spain;2. Laboratorio de Isótopos Estables, Autonomous University of Madrid, Spain |
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Abstract: | The quantification of the below-ground N of legumes is a key to understand its effect on soil N fertility and the N economy of subsequent legume-based rotations. Significant amounts of the N fixed by legumes are incorporated into the soil as fallen leaves and stems. However, the N from roots, nodules and root exudates has rarely been quantified under field conditions, nor have the management effects been evaluated. This study measured the effects of tillage system no-tillage (NT) and conventional tillage (CT)] on N rhizodeposition in faba bean (Vicia faba L.) and chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) during a 3-year period (2003–2004, 2005–2006 and 2006–2007) in a Vertisol under rainfed Mediterranean conditions. Faba bean and chickpea plants were labelled in situ with 15N using stem feeding and leaf feeding, respectively. NT increased the N derived from rhizodeposition (NdfR) with respect to CT (135 vs. 68 kg N ha−1 in faba bean and 115 vs. 97 kg N ha−1 in chickpea). Such differences between tillage methods can be attributed to the more favourable conditions for root growth produced by NT. NdfR was significantly influenced by depth; in faba bean, the greatest amount (70%) was found in the 0–30 cm layer, whereas in chickpea, 41% of the NdfR was concentrated in the 30–60 cm depth. The 54% and 61% of total plant N was NdfR (in faba bean and chickpea, respectively) representing 90% of the below-ground plant N in both crops. Our results show that the N derived from rhizodeposition is an important source for N balance and is a key to soil fertility in rain-fed Mediterranean cropping systems. |
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Keywords: | NT No tillage CT Conventional tillage NdfR Nitrogen derived from rhizodeposition |
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