Nitrogen Fixation and Resource Partitioning in Alfalfa (<i>Medicago sativa</i> L.), Cicer Milkvetch (<i>Astragalus cicer</i> L.) and Sainfoin (<i>Onobrychis viciifolia</i> Scop.) Using <sup>15</sup>N Enrichment under Controlled Environment Conditions
Availability of nitrogen (N) limits pasture production. Inclusion of legumes into grass pastures can provide an alternative N source through biological N<sub>2</sub> fixation (BNF), and enhance retention and cycling of soil C and N. Despite the use of alfalfa (<i>Medicago sativa<...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2020-09-01
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| Series: | Agronomy |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/10/9/1438 |
| _version_ | 1797553013717467136 |
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| author | Gazali Issah Jeff J. Schoenau Herbert A. Lardner J. Diane Knight |
| author_facet | Gazali Issah Jeff J. Schoenau Herbert A. Lardner J. Diane Knight |
| author_sort | Gazali Issah |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Availability of nitrogen (N) limits pasture production. Inclusion of legumes into grass pastures can provide an alternative N source through biological N<sub>2</sub> fixation (BNF), and enhance retention and cycling of soil C and N. Despite the use of alfalfa (<i>Medicago sativa</i> L.), cicer milkvetch (<i>Astragalus cicer</i> L.) and sainfoin (<i>Onobrychis viciifolia</i> Scop.) in grass-legume pastures to improve forage quality, relative BNF potentials and resource partitioning are unknown. We quantified BNF using <sup>15</sup>N isotope dilution and estimated resource partitioning in alfalfa, two cultivars of cicer milkvetch and two cultivars of sainfoin under controlled conditions. Percentage of nitrogen derived from atmosphere followed the order alfalfa (92%) > cicer milkvetch (87%) > sainfoin (81%); corresponding to estimated N contributions of 200, 128 and 65 kg N ha<sup>−1</sup> yr<sup>−1</sup>, respectively, based on total herbage. Root dry matter was 24% to 36% greater than shoot dry matter in all of the legumes, providing substantial below-ground C and N. Cultivars of the same species did not differ in any measured parameter (<i>p</i> > 0.05). Despite the lower BNF in cicer milkvetch and sainfoin compared to alfalfa, their use may not negatively affect stand productivity and C storage. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T16:09:21Z |
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| id | doaj.art-16fd872b81594d20a35592e7a5a1ed44 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2073-4395 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T16:09:21Z |
| publishDate | 2020-09-01 |
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| series | Agronomy |
| spelling | doaj.art-16fd872b81594d20a35592e7a5a1ed442023-11-20T14:35:02ZengMDPI AGAgronomy2073-43952020-09-01109143810.3390/agronomy10091438Nitrogen Fixation and Resource Partitioning in Alfalfa (<i>Medicago sativa</i> L.), Cicer Milkvetch (<i>Astragalus cicer</i> L.) and Sainfoin (<i>Onobrychis viciifolia</i> Scop.) Using <sup>15</sup>N Enrichment under Controlled Environment ConditionsGazali Issah0Jeff J. Schoenau1Herbert A. Lardner2J. Diane Knight3Department of Soil Science, University of Saskatchewan, 51 Campus Drive, Saskatoon, SK S7N 5A8, CanadaDepartment of Soil Science, University of Saskatchewan, 51 Campus Drive, Saskatoon, SK S7N 5A8, CanadaDepartment of Animal and Poultry Science, University of Saskatchewan, 51 Campus Drive, Saskatoon, SK S7N 5A8, CanadaDepartment of Soil Science, University of Saskatchewan, 51 Campus Drive, Saskatoon, SK S7N 5A8, CanadaAvailability of nitrogen (N) limits pasture production. Inclusion of legumes into grass pastures can provide an alternative N source through biological N<sub>2</sub> fixation (BNF), and enhance retention and cycling of soil C and N. Despite the use of alfalfa (<i>Medicago sativa</i> L.), cicer milkvetch (<i>Astragalus cicer</i> L.) and sainfoin (<i>Onobrychis viciifolia</i> Scop.) in grass-legume pastures to improve forage quality, relative BNF potentials and resource partitioning are unknown. We quantified BNF using <sup>15</sup>N isotope dilution and estimated resource partitioning in alfalfa, two cultivars of cicer milkvetch and two cultivars of sainfoin under controlled conditions. Percentage of nitrogen derived from atmosphere followed the order alfalfa (92%) > cicer milkvetch (87%) > sainfoin (81%); corresponding to estimated N contributions of 200, 128 and 65 kg N ha<sup>−1</sup> yr<sup>−1</sup>, respectively, based on total herbage. Root dry matter was 24% to 36% greater than shoot dry matter in all of the legumes, providing substantial below-ground C and N. Cultivars of the same species did not differ in any measured parameter (<i>p</i> > 0.05). Despite the lower BNF in cicer milkvetch and sainfoin compared to alfalfa, their use may not negatively affect stand productivity and C storage.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/10/9/1438biological nitrogen fixationpasture systems<sup>15</sup>N dilutionresource partitioningherbage yieldalfalfa |
| spellingShingle | Gazali Issah Jeff J. Schoenau Herbert A. Lardner J. Diane Knight Nitrogen Fixation and Resource Partitioning in Alfalfa (<i>Medicago sativa</i> L.), Cicer Milkvetch (<i>Astragalus cicer</i> L.) and Sainfoin (<i>Onobrychis viciifolia</i> Scop.) Using <sup>15</sup>N Enrichment under Controlled Environment Conditions Agronomy biological nitrogen fixation pasture systems <sup>15</sup>N dilution resource partitioning herbage yield alfalfa |
| title | Nitrogen Fixation and Resource Partitioning in Alfalfa (<i>Medicago sativa</i> L.), Cicer Milkvetch (<i>Astragalus cicer</i> L.) and Sainfoin (<i>Onobrychis viciifolia</i> Scop.) Using <sup>15</sup>N Enrichment under Controlled Environment Conditions |
| title_full | Nitrogen Fixation and Resource Partitioning in Alfalfa (<i>Medicago sativa</i> L.), Cicer Milkvetch (<i>Astragalus cicer</i> L.) and Sainfoin (<i>Onobrychis viciifolia</i> Scop.) Using <sup>15</sup>N Enrichment under Controlled Environment Conditions |
| title_fullStr | Nitrogen Fixation and Resource Partitioning in Alfalfa (<i>Medicago sativa</i> L.), Cicer Milkvetch (<i>Astragalus cicer</i> L.) and Sainfoin (<i>Onobrychis viciifolia</i> Scop.) Using <sup>15</sup>N Enrichment under Controlled Environment Conditions |
| title_full_unstemmed | Nitrogen Fixation and Resource Partitioning in Alfalfa (<i>Medicago sativa</i> L.), Cicer Milkvetch (<i>Astragalus cicer</i> L.) and Sainfoin (<i>Onobrychis viciifolia</i> Scop.) Using <sup>15</sup>N Enrichment under Controlled Environment Conditions |
| title_short | Nitrogen Fixation and Resource Partitioning in Alfalfa (<i>Medicago sativa</i> L.), Cicer Milkvetch (<i>Astragalus cicer</i> L.) and Sainfoin (<i>Onobrychis viciifolia</i> Scop.) Using <sup>15</sup>N Enrichment under Controlled Environment Conditions |
| title_sort | nitrogen fixation and resource partitioning in alfalfa i medicago sativa i l cicer milkvetch i astragalus cicer i l and sainfoin i onobrychis viciifolia i scop using sup 15 sup n enrichment under controlled environment conditions |
| topic | biological nitrogen fixation pasture systems <sup>15</sup>N dilution resource partitioning herbage yield alfalfa |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/10/9/1438 |
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