Abstract

Yield benefits of legume cover crops in winter/spring cereal systems have not been well documented in the Canadian prairies. The objective of this study was to evaluate the fertilizer replacement values (FRV) of relay-cropped alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) and red clover (Trifolium pratense L.) and double-cropped chickling vetch (Lathryus sativus L.) and black lentil (Lens culinaris Medik. subsp. culinaris) to a subsequent oat (Avena sativa L.) crop. Field experiments were conducted in Manitoba on a clay soil at Winnipeg and a sandy loam at Carman. Alfalfa provided the highest FRV at Winnipeg (51–62 kg N ha-1), followed by chickling vetch (29–43 kg N ha-1), lentil (23–39 kg N ha-1), and red clover (24–26 kg N ha-1). FRV could not be established at Carman, where course-textured soil and low rainfall limited legume growth. Key words: Relay cropping, double cropping, cover crops

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