Forage nitrogen yield and soil nitrogen in artificial grasslands with varied Medicago seedling proportion

ABSTRACT

This study aimed to understand the effects of Medicago spp proportion on symbiotic and non-symbiotic nitrogen (N) utilization of plants, and subsequent forage production and soil N status in an artificial Leymus chinensis grassland. By a two-year field experiment conducted in semi-arid northern China, it was found that the corresponding biomass proportions of legume in swards were 0, 39, 63, 83 and 98% when legume seedling proportions at sowing were 0, 25, 50, 75 and 100%, respectively. Increased Medicago seedling proportion (from 25 to 100%) decreased legume N₂ fixation capacity from 53 to 21%, as a consequence, this reduced total symbiotic N₂ fixation and its contribution to forage production with Medicago seedling proportion increasing from 50 to 75% or more. However, as increased Medicago seedling proportion enhanced legume biomass and sward uptake to soil mineral N, higher legume stands still led to the greater biomass and N yield. The cultures with 50% seedling of legume had 4–13% greater soil N concentration than the cultures with 0, 25, 75 and 100% seedling of legume. We concluded that pure Medicago stands led to the greatest forage yield, while medium Medicago stands could lead to the greater symbiotic N fixation and soil N concentration.