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Cereal and oil seed crops response to organic nitrogen when grown in rotation with annual aerial-seeded pasture legumes

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 June 2022

Angelo Loi Open the ORCID record for Angelo Loi [Opens in a new window] ,
Dean T. Thomas ,
Ronald J. Yates ,
Robert J. Harrison Open the ORCID record for Robert J. Harrison [Opens in a new window] ,
Mario D'Antuono ,
Giovanni A. Re Open the ORCID record for Giovanni A. Re [Opens in a new window] ,
Hayley C. Norman  and
John G. Howieson
Angelo Loi*
Affiliation:
Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, Research & Industry Innovation, 3 Baron Hay Court, South Perth, WA 6151, Australia
Dean T. Thomas
Affiliation:
CSIRO Agriculture and Food, Private Bag 5, Wembley, WA 6913, Australia
Ronald J. Yates
Affiliation:
Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, Research & Industry Innovation, 3 Baron Hay Court, South Perth, WA 6151, Australia Legume and Rhizobium Sciences, Future Food Industries, Murdoch University, 90 South Street, Murdoch, WA 6150, Australia
Robert J. Harrison
Affiliation:
CSIRO Agriculture and Food, Private Bag 5, Wembley, WA 6913, Australia Legume and Rhizobium Sciences, Future Food Industries, Murdoch University, 90 South Street, Murdoch, WA 6150, Australia
Mario D'Antuono
Affiliation:
Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, Research & Industry Innovation, 3 Baron Hay Court, South Perth, WA 6151, Australia
Giovanni A. Re
Affiliation:
National Research Council, Institute for the Animal Production System in Mediterranean Environment, Traversa la Crucca 3, località Baldinca, 07100 Sassari, Italy
Hayley C. Norman
Affiliation:
CSIRO Agriculture and Food, Private Bag 5, Wembley, WA 6913, Australia
John G. Howieson
Affiliation:
Legume and Rhizobium Sciences, Future Food Industries, Murdoch University, 90 South Street, Murdoch, WA 6150, Australia
*
Author for correspondence: Angelo Loi, E-mail: angelo.loi@dpird.wa.gov.au
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Abstract

Nitrogen fixation from pasture legumes is a fundamental process that contributes to the profitability and sustainability of dryland agricultural systems. The aim of this research was to determine whether well-managed pastures, based on aerial-seeding pasture legumes, could partially or wholly meet the nitrogen (N) requirements of subsequent grain crops in an annual rotation. Fifteen experiments were conducted in Western Australia with wheat, barley or canola crops grown in a rotation that included the pasture legume species French serradella (Ornithopus sativus), biserrula (Biserrula pelecinus), bladder clover (Trifolium spumosum), annual medics (Medicago spp.) and the non-aerial seeded subterranean clover (Trifolium subterraneum). After the pasture phase, five rates of inorganic N fertilizer (Urea, applied at 0, 23, 46, 69 and 92 kg/ha) were applied to subsequent cereal and oil seed crops. The yields of wheat grown after serradella, biserrula and bladder clover, without the use of applied N fertilizer, were consistent with the target yields for growing conditions of the trials (2.3 to 5.4 t/ha). Crop yields after phases of these pasture legume species were similar or higher than those following subterranean clover or annual medics. The results of this study suggest a single season of a legume-dominant pasture may provide sufficient organic N in the soil to grow at least one crop, without the need for inorganic N fertilizer application. This has implications for reducing inorganic N requirements and the carbon footprint of cropping in dryland agricultural systems.

Keywords

Biserruladryland pasture legume systemsley farming systemsnitrogen fixationserradellasummer sowingTrifolium
Type
Crops and Soils Research Paper
Information
The Journal of Agricultural Science , Volume 160 , Issue 3-4 , June 2022 , pp. 207 - 219
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Copyright
Copyright © The Author(s), 2022. Published by Cambridge University Press

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