Estimation of residual N effect of faba bean and pea on two succeeding cereals using15N methodology

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted using15N methodology to study the effect of cultivation of faba bean (Vicia faba L.), pea (Pisum sativum L.) and barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) on the N status of soil and their residual N effect on two succeeding cereals (sorghum (Sorghum vulgare) followed by barley). Faba bean, pea and barley took up 29.6, 34.5 and 53.0 kg N ha−1 from the soil, but returned to soil through roots only 11.3, 10.8 and 5.7 kg N ha−1, respectively. Hence, removal of faba bean, pea and barley straw resulted in a N-balance of about −18, −24, and −47 kg ha−1 respectively. A soil nitrogen conserving effect was observed following the cultivation of faba bean and pea compared to barley which was of the order of 23 and 18 kg N ha−1, respectively. Cultivation of legumes resulted in a significantly higher AN value of the soil compared to barley. However, the AN of the soil following fallow was significantly higher than following legumes, implying that the cultivation of the legumes had depleted the soil less than barley but had not added to the soil N compared to the fallow. The beneficial effect of legume cropping also was reflected in the N yield and dry matter production of the succeeding crops. Cultivation of legumes led to a greater exploitation of soil N by the succeeding crops. Hence, appreciable yield increases observed in the succeeding crops following legumes compared to cereal were due to a N-conserving effect, carry-over of N from the legume residue and to greater uptake of soil N by the succeeding crops when previously cropped to legumes.