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Effects of including forbs on N2-fixation and N yield in red clover-ryegrass mixtures

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Abstract

Background

Legume biological nitrogen (N2)-fixation is stimulated by neighbouring non-fixing species, but studies of legume N2-fixation in temporary grasslands including non-leguminous forage herb (forb) species are rare.

Methodology

We investigated N2-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.

Results

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 N2-fixation and total N yields by affecting the red clover proportion in the harvested biomass.

Conclusions

Generally, inclusion of forbs in red clover-ryegrass mixtures had no negative effect on total herbage production and percentage of legume N2-fixation. However, to maintain a high total N and N2-fixation yields, mixtures should not include a high seeding proportion of chicory.

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Funding

This work was funded by the Green Development and Demonstration Program (GUDP project MultiPlant) as part of the Organic RDD-2 programme and coordinated by the International Centre for Research in Organic Food Systems (ICROFS).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Agroecology, Aarhus University, PO Box 50, 8830, Tjele, Denmark

    Nawa Raj Dhamala, Jim Rasmussen, Karen Søegaard & Jørgen Eriksen

  2. Department of Biosystems and Technology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, PO Box 103, 23053, Alnarp, Sweden

    Georg Carlsson

Authors
  1. Nawa Raj Dhamala
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  2. Jim Rasmussen
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  3. Georg Carlsson
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  4. Karen Søegaard
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  5. Jørgen Eriksen
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Nawa Raj Dhamala.

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Responsible Editor: Euan K. James

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Dhamala, N.R., Rasmussen, J., Carlsson, G. et al. Effects of including forbs on N2-fixation and N yield in red clover-ryegrass mixtures. Plant Soil 424, 525–537 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-017-3554-9

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