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Cutting regime affects the amount and allocation of symbiotically fixed N in green manure leys

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Abstract

Cutting strategy effect on N2 fixation and distribution of fixed N above and below ground in red clover (Trifolium pratense L.) and mixed red clover/perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) green manure leys was quantified in field experiments including in situ mezotrons and microplots. Symbiotically fixed N in clover, transfer of fixed N to grass in the mixed stands and the fate of 15N contained in mulch were estimated by isotope dilution. Below ground clover-derived N was estimated by leaf labelling. Total N2 fixation was estimated by correcting fixed N in plant shoots with plant-derived N below ground and recycled N from mulch. The total N2 fixation was larger in harvested and mulched stands (average 45 g m−2) than in the intact stands (32 g m−2). Of the fixed N, 53% (intact), 46% (harvested) and 60% (mulched) was found below ground. The average recycling of N in mulch was 21% and contributed 13.7% (pure clover) and 2.2% (mixed) of the clover N in the regrowth. Recycling of N did not decrease N2 fixation in the mulched compared with harvested stands. The results indicate that cutting regime should be considered when estimating total amounts of N fixed by green manure leys.

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Acknowledgements

This project was funded by The Swedish Research Council for Environment, Agricultural Sciences and Spatial Planning (FORMAS), SLUEkoForsk and the Foundation for plant nutrition research.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Soil and Environment, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Box 7014, SE-750 07, Uppsala, Sweden

    A. Sigrun Dahlin

  2. Department of Soil and Environment, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, 234, SE-53223, Skara, Sweden

    Maria Stenberg

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  1. A. Sigrun Dahlin
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  2. Maria Stenberg
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Correspondence to A. Sigrun Dahlin.

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Responsible Editor: Elizabeth M. Baggs.

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Dahlin, A.S., Stenberg, M. Cutting regime affects the amount and allocation of symbiotically fixed N in green manure leys. Plant Soil 331, 401–412 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-009-0261-1

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