Legume Green Manure Research Articles

The Effects of Green Manure (Sesbania rostrata) on the Growth and Yield of Rice

Green manuring with an N2-fixing legume crop can meet a substantial portion of rice N requirement and provide organic matter to wetland rice soils to maintain soil fertility. Organic-N fertilizers in the form of flood-tolerant, leguminous, stem-nodulating Sesbania rostrata can be useful alternatives to resource- poor rice farmers if applied as green manure. Therefore, the accumulation of fixed N by this green manure, their effect on the performance and yield of rice was examined. Firstly, root and/or stem nodulation, nitro- gen fixation (acetylene-reducing activity), growth and N accumulation of S. rostrata as affected by inocula- tion site were studied in a pot experiment. The growth and N accumulation of S. rostrata in stem inocula- tion treatment was the highest. Therefore, stem inoculation method was used for growing S. rostrata to incorporate into the rice soils for the second experiment. In the second experiment, the effects of S. ros- trata green manure application on the growth and yield of rice were studied. Green manure treatments (2 and 4 plants pot -1 ) were compared to urea treatments (40 and 80 kg N ha -1 ) and no application treatment. Green manure treatments increased dry matter weight and grain weight of rice significantly over urea and no application treatments. All green manure treatments increased N uptake of the plant. It can be con- cluded that incorporation of green manure legumes can add large amount of biologically fixed N to rice soils. The effective utilization of biomass produced by the stem-nodulating S. rostrata could be an eco- nomically viable component of integrated nutrient management for increasing the yield components and yield of rice per unit area.

Towards a More Productive and Sustainable Cropping System in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. I. Rice Production

To improve food security in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, an increase in grain production is essential. However, the access to and affordability of fertilizer is limited. At two cooperative farms (Hyongsan and UnSong) in the central western grain-producing region, field trials with rice were established in 2002 and continued to 2005. The aim was to quantify the yield response of lowland rice to a legume green manure (hairy vetch; Vicia villosa) sown in autumn-winter of each year. In other cropping treatments one, two or all vetch crops in the three-year sequence were replaced by wheat, or by fallow (traditional). Thus, over the course of the experiment the number of vetch crops relative to rice crops (vetch : rice) varied 1.0, 0.67, 0.33, and 0.0 between the rotation treatments. Each rotation treatment was amended with nil or plus urea (60 kg N/ha) applied only to the rice crop. Basal nutrients of P, K, and Mo were applied to all treatments and the continuous rice-fallow and rice-wheat rotations were duplicated without the basal nutrients. The yields of rice sites were limited by N fertility. Rotations that included vetch supported significantly higher mean rice yields than the continuous rice-fallow or rice-wheat rotations. In the absence of urea, the mean yield of rice in the treatment with vetch : rice = 1.0 was 0.55 t/ha (12%) greater than the yield in the rice-fallow treatment, and was 68% of the mean rice yield achieved with the annual applications of urea in the rice-fallow rotation. The yield of rice was positively related to the amount of vetch preceding each rice crop, and the mean annual gain in rice yield was estimated at 67 kg/fresh weight tons of vetch/ha. However, the biomass of vetch was severely reduced in some plots by waterlogging, by grazing or foraging, and by cold sensitivity such that improved vetch management may feasibly support greater increases in rice yield. A combination of both urea and vetch produced the highest mean rice yields, but it also increased the risk of blight in rice. It was concluded that widespread adoption of winter legume green manuring in the DPRK would significantly improve food security and reduce reliance on urea aid; however, further research is required to optimize this strategy for rice yield.

Compost, Manure and Synthetic Fertilizer Influences Crop Yields, Soil Properties, Nitrate Leaching and Crop Nutrient Content

From 1993 to 2001, a maize-vegetable-wheat rotation was compared using either 1) composts, 2) manure, or 3) synthetic fertilizer for nitrogen nutrient input. From 1993 to 1998, red clover (Trifolium pratense L.) and crimson clover (Trifolium incarnatum L.) were used as an annual winter legume cover crop prior to maize production. From 1999 to 2001, hairy vetch (Vicia villosa Roth.) served as the legume green manure nitrogen (N) source for maize. In this rotation, wheat depended entirely on residual N that remained in the soil after maize and vegetable (pepper and potato) production. Vegetables received either compost, manure, or fertilizer N inputs. Raw dairy manure stimulated the highest overall maize yields of 7,395 kg/ha (approximately 140 bushels per acre). This exceeded the Berks County mean yield of about 107 bushels per acre from 1994 to 2001. When hairy vetch replaced clover as the winter green manure cover crop, maize yields rose in three of the four treatments (approximately 500-1,300 kg/ha, or 10-24 bu/a). Hairy vetch cover cropping also resulted in a 9-25 % increase in wheat yields in the compost treatments compared to clover cover cropping. Hairy vetch cover crops increased both maize and wheat grain protein contents about 16 to 20% compared to the clover cover crop. Compost was superior to conventional synthetic fertilizer and raw dairy manure in 1) building soil nutrient levels, 2) providing residual nutrient support to wheat production, and 3) reducing nutrient losses to ground and surface waters. After 9 years, soil carbon (C) and soil N remained unchanged or declined slightly in the synthetic fertilizer treatment, but increased with use of compost amendments by 16-27% for C and by 13-16% for N. However, with hairy vetch cover crops, N leaching increased 4 times when compared to clover cover crops. September was the highest month for nitrate leaching, combining high rainfall with a lack of active cash crop or cover crop growth to use residual N. Broiler litter leaf compost (BLLC) showed the lowest nitrate leaching of all the nutrient amendments tested (P= 0.05).

Nitrogen benefits of legume green manuring in sugarcane farming systems in Mauritius

Field trials were laid down at four locations in Mauritus from 2003 to 2006 to determine the contribution of LGM to the N nutrition of sugarcane and whether LGM could partly substitute for mineral fertilizer N. Data showed that N returns to soil from LGM crops ranged between 100 and 267 kg N ha−1 of which between 50 and 70 % was obtained from biological fixation. The availability of N in legume biomass to the subsequent plant cane crop, as determined by the 15N dilution technique, ranged between 21 and 44 kg N ha−1. Incorporation of LGM prior to planting significantly increased yield of plant cane fertilized with half the recommended rate of mineral N. Based on the results of this study, current rate of fertilizer N for plant and first ratoon cane following a LGM crop may be reduced by half without a loss in the yield.

화본과 및 두과 녹비작물 토양환원에 따른 토마토 생육 및 토양 양분수지량 변화

시설재배 토마토(To) 생산에 미치는 녹비 토양투입 효과와 양분 수지량을 조사하기 위하여 겨울과 여름 휴한기 동안 헤어리베치(Hv), 호밀(Ry), 콩(Sb), 수단그라스(Sd)를 녹비로 재배하였으며, 녹비와 토마토를 조합한 작부체계로서 두과 녹비작물을 활용한 Hv-To-Sb-To, 화본과 녹비작물로 구성된 Ry-To-Sb-To, 그리고 두과와 화본과 녹비를 교호 재배하는 Ry-To-Sd-To로 구분하여, 화학비료(Cf)를 처리하는 Cf-To-Cf-To 작부체계와 비교하였다. 녹비 수량은 겨울 휴한기에 비해 여름 휴한기 동안 높았던 반면, 녹비의 질소 고정량은 화본과에 비해 두과 녹비작물에서 현저히 높아 두과 녹비작물의 경우 토마토 재배를 위한 질소량의 62%를 고정하였다. 두과 녹비작물로 구성된 작부체계(Hv-To-Sb-To)의 토마토 수량은 관행(Cf-To-Cf-To)과 유사하였으나, 화본과 녹비로 구성된 처리구(Ry-To-Sd-To)의 수량은 두과 녹비작물 처리구 수량의 40% 수준으로서 현저한 수량 감소가 나타났다. 한편 두과 녹비작물 활용에 따른 질소공급 효과로 인해 토마토 생육 및 과실 생산량은 증가한 반면, 후작물에 의한 양분흡수량이 많아 Ry-To-Sb-To 작부체계의 N:P:K 수지량은 -80:-59:<TEX>$-480\;kg\;ha^{-1}\;yr^{-1}$</TEX>로서 양분의 불균형이 심각하였다. 역으로 화본과 녹비로 구성된 Ry-To-Sb-To 작부체계의 N:P:K 수지량은 43:1:<TEX>$130\;kg\;ha^{-1}\;yr^{-1}$</TEX>로서 양분수지상 3요소 모두 양의 값을 보였으나, 이는 화본과 녹비작물의 낮은 질소 고정량과 높은 C/N율로 인해 후작물 토마토의 생육이 부진하였던 결과로 판단된다. 결론적으로 두과 녹비작물 토양 환원시 양분 수지량에서 큰 음의 값을 보였을지라도 관행수준의 토마토 수량을 얻을 수 있다는 관점에서 두과녹비는 화학비료 없이 유기농 재배를 위한 양분공급 및 토양지력 증진 방안으로서 활용 가능하고, 일반 토마토 재배 시에도 다소의 부족한 양분 수지량만 조정한다면 균형된 작부체계로 이용할 수 있을 것으로 판단된다. To investigate the effects of incorporation of green manures (GM) into a sandy loam soil on growth, yield, and nutrient uptake of tomato (Lycoperiscon esculentum Mill.) and nutrient balances (input minus offtake of nutrients), five tomato production systems were compared under the condition of plastic film house: 1) a no input system (no additional amendment or inputs, 0-To-0-To); 2) a conventional system (application of N-P-K chemical fertilizers, Cf-To-Cf-To); 3) a leguminous GM-containing system (hairy vetch-tomato-soybean-tomato, Hv-To-Sb-To); 4) a graminaceous GM-containing system (rye-tomato-sudan grass-tomato, Ry-To-Sd-To); and 5) system mixed with leguminous and graminaceous GMs (rye-tomatosoybean- tomato, Ry-To-Sb-To). Here, hairy vetch and rye were cultivated as winter cover crops during late <TEX>$Dec{\sim}late$</TEX> Feb and soybean and sudan grass were cultivated as summer cover crops during late <TEX>$Jun{\sim}mid$</TEX> Aug. All of them cut before tomato planting and then incorporated into soil. Biomass of GMs was greater in summer season than that of winter season. Nitrogen amount fixed by a leguminous plants was about <TEX>$126\;kg\;ha^{-1}$</TEX> per a cropping season, corresponding to 60% N level needed for tomato production, which was comparable to 50 and <TEX>$96\;kg\;ha^{-1}$</TEX> fixed by rye and sudan grass. As a result, tomato yield of Hv-To-Sb-To system (legume GM treatment) was similar to Cf-To-Cf-To (conventional), but that in Ry-To-Sd-To system (graminaceous GM treatment) was not attained to a half level of conventional treatment. Nutrient budgets for N, P and K on the conventional farm were balanced or somewhat positive exception for minus-balanced K. Ry-To-Sd-To system showed a positive N, P and K budgets due to the depressed growth of tomato which is caused by high C/N ratio and low N-fixing capacity of the GMs. Inversely, those of Hv-To-Sb-To system were negative in all of N, P and K budgets because of increased growth and yield of tomato with high nitrogen-supplying capacity as well as low C/N ratio of leguminous GM. In conclusion, although conventional cultivation has an advantage in relation to N, P and K nutrient budgets rather than GM-incorporated systems, a leguminous GMs could be recommended as nitrogen reservoir and soil amendment because the yield of tomato between use of leguminous GM and conventional cultivation was not only significantly difference, but also GMs commonly reduce nutrient loss and improve microbial communities.

A nodule‐specific plant cysteine proteinase, AsNODF32, is involved in nodule senescence and nitrogen fixation activity of the green manure legume Astragalus sinicus

Asnodf32, encoding a nodule-specific cysteine proteinase in Astragalus sinicus, is probably involved in nodule senescence. To obtain direct evidence of its role in nodule senescence, Agrobacterium rhizogenes-mediated RNA interference was applied to A. sinicus hairy roots. Real-time qRT-PCR was used to estimate the efficiency of suppression. The senescent phenotype of transgenic nodules was examined with paraffin-embedded slides, TUNEL (TdT-mediated dUTP nick-end labeling) assay, and transmission electron microscopy, and the bacteroid nitrogen fixation activity was also measured. It was found that silencing of Asnodf32 delayed root nodule and bacteroid senescence. The period of bacteroid active nitrogen fixation was significantly extended. Interestingly, nodules enlarged in length were also observed on Asnodf32-silenced hairy roots. The results reported here indicate that Asnodf32 plays an important role in the regulation of root nodule senescence.

Isotopic tracing of phosphorus uptake in corn from 33P labelled legume residues and 32P labelled fertilisers applied to a sandy loam soil

In low input (e.g. organic) farming systems where soil phosphorus (P) fertilisers such as superphosphate are not used, maintaining sufficient available soil P for plant growth can be a major challenge. The use of P accumulating cover crops may increase P availability for subsequent crops. We hypothesised that P release from organic residues of legumes (faba bean (Vicia faba) and field peas (Pisum sativum)) could supply adequate P to meet the needs of a subsequent crop in a low P soil. A pot experiment was conducted to determine the contribution of P by legume green manure to subsequent corn using 33P labelled legume residues and 32P labelled inorganic fertiliser (KH2PO4). The treatments included two rates of P application, (a) 10 kg P ha−1 as legume root and shoot residues or as inorganic fertiliser with and without a C source, and (b) 38 kg P ha−1as a combination of legume shoot and root residues or a combination of root and inorganic fertiliser and inorganic fertiliser alone. An absolute control (zero P) was also used. Shoot dry matter, P uptake and P source (residues or fertilisers) of total P in corn were measured at harvest. Faba bean and field pea residues alone or in combination with fertilisers contributed up to 10% and 5% of the total P uptake by corn respectively, compared with up to 54% by inorganic fertilisers. Incorporation of field pea and faba bean residues with P concentrations higher than those observed under field conditions, may not always lead to adequate net P release to supply the early growth phase of subsequent crops.

Global inputs of biological nitrogen fixation in agricultural systems

Biological dinitrogen (N2) fixation is a natural process of significant importance in world agriculture. The demand for accurate determinations of global inputs of biologically-fixed nitrogen (N) is strong and will continue to be fuelled by the need to understand and effectively manage the global N cycle. In this paper we review and update long-standing and more recent estimates of biological N2 fixation for the different agricultural systems, including the extensive, uncultivated tropical savannas used for grazing. Our methodology was to combine data on the areas and yields of legumes and cereals from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) database on world agricultural production (FAOSTAT) with published and unpublished data on N2 fixation. As the FAO lists grain legumes only, and not forage, fodder and green manure legumes, other literature was accessed to obtain approximate estimates in these cases. Below-ground plant N was factored into the estimations. The most important N2-fixing agents in agricultural systems are the symbiotic associations between crop and forage/fodder legumes and rhizobia. Annual inputs of fixed N are calculated to be 2.95 Tg for the pulses and 18.5 Tg for the oilseed legumes. Soybean (Glycine max) is the dominant crop legume, representing 50% of the global crop legume area and 68% of global production. We calculate soybean to fix 16.4 Tg N annually, representing 77% of the N fixed by the crop legumes. Annual N2 fixation by soybean in the U.S., Brazil and Argentina is calculated at 5.7, 4.6 and 3.4 Tg, respectively. Accurately estimating global N2 fixation for the symbioses of the forage and fodder legumes is challenging because statistics on the areas and productivity of these legumes are almost impossible to obtain. The uncertainty increases as we move to the other agricultural-production systems—rice (Oryza sativa), sugar cane (Saccharum spp.), cereal and oilseed (non-legume) crop lands and extensive, grazed savannas. Nonetheless, the estimates of annual N2 fixation inputs are 12–25 Tg (pasture and fodder legumes), 5 Tg (rice), 0.5 Tg (sugar cane), <4 Tg (non-legume crop lands) and <14 Tg (extensive savannas). Aggregating these individual estimates provides an overall estimate of 50–70 Tg N fixed biologically in agricultural systems. The uncertainty of this range would be reduced with the publication of more accurate statistics on areas and productivity of forage and fodder legumes and the publication of many more estimates of N2 fixation, particularly in the cereal, oilseed and non-legume crop lands and extensive tropical savannas used for grazing.

Meta-analysis of maize yield response to woody and herbaceous legumes in sub-Saharan Africa

A number of studies have tested the effect of woody and herbaceous legumes on soil fertility and maize yields in sub-Saharan Africa. However, their effects on maize productivity are much debated because results have been variable. A meta-analysis was conducted with the aim of evaluating the evidence in support of yield benefits from woody and herbaceous green manure legumes. A total of 94 peer-reviewed publications from West, East and southern Africa qualified for inclusion in the analysis. Maize yield from herbaceous green manure legumes (54 publications), non-coppicing legumes (48 publications), coppicing woody legumes (10 publications), natural fallows (29 publications), and fully fertilized monoculture maize (52 publications) were compared. Mixed linear modelling using yield differences (D) and response ratios (RR) indicated that the response to legumes is positive. The mean yield increase (D) over unfertilized maize was highest (2.3 t ha−1) and least variable (CV = 70%) in fully fertilized maize, while it was lowest (0.3 t ha−1) and most variable (CV = 229%) in natural fallows. The increase in yield over unfertilized maize was 1.6 t ha−1 with coppicing woody legumes, 1.3 t ha−1 with non-coppicing woody legumes and 0.8 t ha-1 with herbaceous green manure legumes. Doubling and tripling of yields relative to the control (RR > 2) was recorded in coppicing species (67% of the cases), non-coppicing legumes (45% of the cases), herbaceous green manure legumes (16% of the cases) and natural fallows (19% of the cases). However, doubling or tripling of yields occurred only in low and medium potential sites. Amending post-fallow plots with 50% of the recommended fertilizer dose further increased yields by over 25% indicating that legume rotations may play an important role in reducing fertilizer requirements. Except with the natural fallow, the 95% confidence intervals of D and RR were higher than 1 and 0, respectively indicating significant and positive response to treatments. Therefore, it is concluded that the global maize yield response to legumes is significantly positive and higher than unfertilized maize and natural vegetation fallows.

A comparison between legume technologies and fallow, and their effects on maize and soil traits, in two distinct environments of the West African savannah

Legume–maize rotation and maize nitrogen (N)-response trials were carried out simultaneously from 1998 to 2004 in two distinct agro-ecological environments of West Africa: the humid derived savannah (Ibadan) and the drier northern Guinea savannah (Zaria). In the N-response trial, maize was grown annually receiving urea N at 0, 30, 60, 90 and 120 kg N ha−1. In Ibadan, maize production increased with N fertilization, but mean annual grain yield declined over the course of the trial. In Zaria, no response to N treatments was observed initially, and an increase in the phosphorus (P) and sulphur (S) fertilizer application rate was required to increase yield across treatments and obtain a response to N applications, stressing the importance of non-N fertilizers in the savannah. In the rotation trial, a 2-year natural fallow–maize rotation was compared with maize rotated with different legume types: green manure, forage, dual-purpose, and grain legumes. The cultivation of some legume types resulted in a greater annual maize production relative to the fallow–maize combination and corresponding treatments in the N-response trial, while there was no gain in maize yield with other legume types. Large differences in the residual effects from legumes and fallow were also observed between sites, indicting a need for site-specific land management recommendations. In Ibadan, cultivation of maize after the forage legume (Stylosanthes guianensis) achieved the highest yield. The natural fallow–maize rotation had improved soil characteristics (Bray-I P, exchangeable potassium, calcium and magnesium) at the end of the trial relative to legume–maize rotations, and natural fallow resulted in higher maize yields than the green manure legume (Pueraria phaseoloides). In Zaria, maize following dual-purpose soybean achieved the highest mean yield. At both sites, variation in aboveground N and P dynamics of the legume and fallow vegetation could only partly explain the different residual effects on maize.

Role of Belowground Parts of Green Manure Legumes, Crotalaria spectabilis and Sesbania rostrata, in N Uptake by the Succeeding Tendergreen Mustard Plant

Using symbiotically N2-fixing legumes as green manures is a way to supply N from the atmosphere to cropping ecosystems. Usually whole plants of the green manure are incorporated into soil; hence, the belowground parts as well as the aboveground parts would contribute to N transfer to succeeding crops. However, little is known about the contribution of the belowground parts alone. We assessed N transfer from belowground parts compared to whole plants of two legumes, Crotalaria spectabilis and Sesbania rostrata. Each of the legumes was grown approximately for 3 months in a 1/2000a Wagner pot filled with soil media, and then the roots alone (R) or shoot and root (S + R) were harvested and incorporated in the pots. Tendergreen mustard (Brassica rapa) as the succeeding crop was grown for 66 days in these pots without additional fertilizer. Although the amount of N in green manure in S + R pots was approximately 4-fold higher than that in R pots, differences in N uptake by tendergreen mustard between the S + R and R pots were smaller (1.7-fold for C. spectabilis and 2.3-fold for S. rostrata). This means that N recovery rate by tendergreen mustard was significantly higher in R than in S + R pots with either green manures. Differences in C/N ratio of the green manures could not likely explain the higher N recovery rate in R pots. Bioassay of the aqueous extracts from the green manure with lettuce seedlings suggested that growth inhibitory effects might be responsible for the lower recovery rate in S + R treatment.

Legume–maize rotation and nitrogen effects on weed performance in the humid and subhumid tropics of West Africa

A long-term trial was established in 1998. The objectives among others were to assess the impact of nitrogen, natural bush fallow, and legume−maize rotations on weed growth and species composition in the forest/savanna transition zone (Ibadan) and northern Guinea savanna (Zaria) in Nigeria. At both locations, the experiment was arranged as a split-plot design. The main plots were green manure legumes ( Pueraria phaseoloides [Roxb.] Benth in Ibadan and Aeschynomene histrix Poir. in Zaria), a forage legume ( Stylosanthes guianensis [Aubl.] Sw.), grain legumes (cowpea [ Vigna unguiculata {L.} Walp ‘IT-90K-284-2’ or soybean [ Glycine max {L.} Merr ‘TGx 1864 and TGx 1485-1 D’), natural bush fallow, and continuous cropping with maize [ Zea mays L.]/cassava [ Manihot esculenta Crantz] ‘82/00058’ at Ibadan and maize at Zaria. Grain legumes were either double-cropped in one season by growing short-duration soybean with cowpea varieties sequentially, or by growing long-duration cultivars within one growing season. Nitrogen levels (0 and 30 kg N ha −1) were the subplot treatments. Weed data were collected in 2000 and 2003 after 2 years of continuous cropping or rotation with natural fallow or legumes. Weed density was significantly higher at Zaria (177 plants m −2) than at Ibadan (149 plants m −2). Weed dry matter was higher at Ibadan than at Zaria. Weed density and dry matter were lower in the green manure and forage legume treatments in both years at Ibadan. At Zaria, the forage legume treatment had the lowest weed density and dry matter in 2003 only. In 2003 at Ibadan, per capita weed population growth rate (WPGR) decreased in the green manure and forage legume treatments. There was an increase in WPGR in continuous cropping, double-cropping with cowpea and soybean, and natural bush fallow treatments. At Zaria, WPGR was not affected by fallow type or nitrogen ( P>0.05). Redundancy analysis showed significant differences in species composition among the various treatments. Nitrogen level did not affect density, dry matter, or the composition of weeds.

Quantifying carbon sequestration in a minimum tillage crop rotation study in semiarid southwestern Saskatchewan

Scientists and the agricultural community require methods of quantifying C sequestration in soils. This is important in assessing the impact of crop management practices on emission of greenhouse gases and for “C trading”. Using simulation models may be a more effective method of quantification as compared with in situ measurements. A 17-yr crop rotation experiment being conducted on a medium-textured Orthic Brown Chernozem at Swift Current, Saskatchewan, in which soil organic C (SOC) was being monitored periodically, was used to assess the effect on C sequestration of cropping frequency, wheat class, legume green manure (LGM), flexible cropping based on available water, and regrassing of crop land. Prior to the study, the experimental site had been cropped to fallow-wheat (F-W) for the previous 60 yr. Crop management in this experiment involved minimum tillage, snow trapping, and N + P fertilization based on soil tests. Three models [Century, the Introductory C Balance model (ICBM), and the Campbell model] were tested for their effectiveness in simulating SOC trends. Because growing season precipitation was average to above average, yields, and thus C inputs from residue, were also above average, and consequently SOC increased in most systems for the first 10 yr before reaching a new steady state. SOC gains (kg ha-1 yr-1) in the 0- to 15-cm depth in 17 yr were directly proportional to cropping frequency (F-W-W = 135, F-W-W-W = 332, and Cont W = 441); LGM-W-W gained SOC at a much higher rate than F-W-W (329 vs. 135 kg ha-1 yr-1 ); Canada Western Red Spring (CWRS) wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), although it yielded 26% less than Canada Prairie Spring (CPS) wheat, gained SOC at a higher rate than CPS wheat (135 vs. 0 kg ha-1 yr-1). Further, 2 yr of conventionally-tilled fallow in 17 yr (flexible system) markedly suppressed SOC gain by 46% compared with Cont W (441 vs. 236 kg ha-1 yr-1). There was a 282 kg ha-1 yr-1 gain in SOC under crested wheatgrass (Agropyron cristatum L.) (CWG) but most of this gain occurred in the last 7 yr. Though having their inherent weaknesses, the ICBM and Campbell models performed equally well in simulating SOC trends (r2 = 0.55**), but Century was less effective (r2 = 0.21*), in part because of its limited ability to simulate yields. Because C input, and thus yield, is one of the main factors influencing SOC gains, and since measured yields are used in the ICBM and Campbell models, while simulated yields are used by Century, the ICBM and Campbell models have an advantage over the Century model in this comparison. Efficiencies of conversion of input C to SOC increased with cropping frequency, and were higher for LGM-W-W than for F-W-W, and for systems with CWRS wheat rather than CPS wheat. Efficiency of conversion was 8% for F-W-W, 15% for LGM-W-W and 21% for Cont W. Key words: ICBM model, Century model, Campbell model, C sequestration, legume green manure, regrassing

Integrated Nutrient Management for Sustainable Crop Production in Potato-Sunflower Sequence

ABSTRACT A field experiment was conducted for three years to compare farmyard manure (FYM) with legume and non-legume green manures at different levels of fertilizer nitrogen in potato (Solanum tuberosum)-sunflower (Helianthus annuus) sequence. Farmyard manure and green manures [sesbania (Sesbania aculeata), pearl millet (Pennisetum typho-idium) and sesbania+pearl millet] were incorporated before planting of potato crop. Five levels of fertilizer N, i.e., 0 (N0), 60 (N1), 120 (N2), 180 (N3) and 240 kg N ha−1 (N4) were applied to potato. Residual effect of organic manures was studied on following sunflower at three levels of fertilizer N (0, 30 and 60 kg N ha−1). Incorporation of inorganic manures improved organic C, available P and available K content in soil after three years in potato-sunflower sequence. Among the various organic manures, the highest potato tuber yield was recorded in FYM treatment. The response to N application was observed up to180 kg N ha−1, irrespective of organic manure treatment. The contribution of larger size (> 4.5 cm) potato tubers towards yield increased with fertilizer N and was 13.0, 17.9, 23.1, 24.4 and 26.7 percent with N0, N1, N2, N3 and N4 at 90 days after planting (DAP). However, the contribution of smaller size tubers (< 3.5 cm) was in the order of N0 > N1 > N2 > N3 > N4. The percentage contribution of larger size tubers towards yield was more in FYM plots than other organic manures. The increase in N uptake with organic manures over non-manured treatment was 51.6, 27.8, 27.1 and 6.2 percent with FYM, sesbania, sesbania + pearl millet and pearl millet, respectively. Organic manures had significant residual effect on seed yield, growth and phenology of sunflower, the response to FYM being more than green manures. Fertilizer N application up to 60 kg ha−1 to sunflower also improved seed yield, plant growth and prolonged grain filling period.

Application of low‐phosphorus‐containing legume residues reduces extractable phosphorus in a tropical Ultisol

AbstractApplication of legume green manure (GM) is suggested to be effective in increasing the availability of native soil phosphorus (P) and the dissolution and utilization of phosphate rock (PR)‐P by food crops.Experiments were conducted to study the dynamics of extractable P (P extracted by Bray‐1‐extracting solution) of an Ultisol amended with or without GM residues of contrasting P concentrations in the absence of growing plants. In two separate experiments, GM residues of Aschynomene afraspera (a flood‐tolerant legume) and of Crotalaria micans (upland) with varying P concentrations were added to an acidic soil amended with PR‐P or triple superphosphate (TSP) in plastic bottles. Soil moisture was brought to field capacity of the soil in the upland experiment and saturated with distilled water in the lowland setup. This was done to simulate aerobic upland and anaerobic lowland soil conditions in the relevant plastic bottles. Only P concentration of the residues added varied, while lignin and C : N ratios were similar. A temperature of 25°C was maintained throughout the experiment.Changes in soil extractable Bray‐1‐P were measured at the end of the incubation period (60 or 80 d). In the aerobic soils, extractable P in the combined PR+GM or TSP+GM treatments was significantly lower than in the PR‐ or TSP‐ treated soils. The amendment with GM residues alone significantly increased Bray‐1‐P over the unamended control in the case of the inorganic P‐fertilized GM residues. The trend in extractable P was similar in the soils incubated under anaerobic conditions. However, in the case of PR, concentrations of P extracted by Bray‐1 solution did not significantly change in the presence or absence of GM.The results suggest that the incorporation of GM residues with low P concentration does not lead to a net P release in upland or lowland soils. These results have implications for nutrient cycling in farming systems in W Africa as most of the soils are poor and very low in available P.

Effects of Green Manures on Growth, Yield and Quality of Green Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus L.) Har Lium Cultivar

This green manure experiment with the use of okra crop as indicator plant was carried out at Mahasarakham University Experimental Farm, Mahasarakham province, Northeast Thailand during May to September 2005 to investigate four types of green manure legume crops on growth, yield and quality of edible fresh pods of okra crop when grown on Roi-Et soil series (Oxic Paleustults). The four types of green manure plants include Jack bean, Cowpea, Green gram, and Giant sensitive plant. The experiment consisted of five treatments, i.e., T1 (Control), T2 (Jack bean), T3 (Cowpea), T4 (Green gram) and T5 (Giant sensitive plant). The experiment was laid in a Completely Randomized Design (CRD) with four replications. The results showed that Roi-Et soil series (Oxic Paleustults) contained some considerable mean values of organic matter (1.64-1.66%) but soil available phosphorus and exchangeable potassium were relatively low, particularly potassium. Green manures of the four legume plants slightly improved soil property of the Roi-Et soil series (tested at the end of the experimental period). The most effective green manure on stem diameter, bushy diameter, leaf numbers plant(-1) and leaf area of the fifth leaf of the okra plants, in most cases, was found with Jack bean and Cowpea ranked the second. However, in most cases, Cowpea gave a similar effect as that of Green gram and Giant sensitive plant. Pod length and weight pod(-1), pod diameter and edible fresh pod yields (5941.86 kg ha(-1)) were highest with Jack bean green manure treatment (T2), whilst the rest, in most cases, were similar. Green manure treatments gave highly significant effect on total soluble solids of pods over the control treatment, whilst total acidity, fibre and pectin contents were unaffected by green manure treatments. Green manure of Jack bean was the best legume crop for green manure to be used in improving soil fertility, particularly for Roi-Et soil series (Oxic Paleustults).

Niche-based assessment of contributions of legumes to the nitrogen economy of Western Kenya smallholder farms

Nitrogen (N) deficiency is a major constraint to the productivity of the African smallholder farming systems. Grain, green manure and forage legumes have the potential to improve the soil N fertility of smallholder farming systems through biological N2-fixation. The N2-fixation of bean (Phaseolus vulgaris), soyabean (Glycine max), groundnut (Arachis hypogaea), Lima bean (Phaseolus lunatus), lablab (Lablab purpureus), velvet bean (Mucuna pruriens), crotalaria (Crotalaria ochroleuca), jackbean (Canavalia ensiformis), desmodium (Desmodium uncinatum), stylo (Stylosanthes guianensis) and siratro (Macroptilium atropurpureum) was assessed using the 15N natural abundance method. The experiments were conducted at three sites in western Kenya, selected on an agro-ecological zone (AEZ) gradient defined by rainfall. On a relative scale, Museno represents high potential AEZ 1, Majengo medium potential AEZ 2 and Ndori low potential AEZ 3. Rainfall in the year of experimentation was highest in AEZ 2, followed by AEZ 1 and AEZ 3. Experimental fields were classified into high, medium and low fertility classes, to assess the influence of soil fertility on N2-fixation performance. The legumes were planted with triple super phosphate (TSP) at 30 kg P ha−1, with an extra soyabean plot planted without TSP (soyabean-P), to assess response to P, and no artificial inoculation was done. Legume grain yield, shoot N accumulation, %N derived from N2-fixation, N2-fixation and net N inputs differed significantly (P<0.01) with rainfall and soil fertility. Mean grain yield ranged from 0.86 Mg ha−1, in AEZ 2, to 0.30 Mg ha−1, in AEZ 3, and from 0.78 Mg ha−1, in the high fertility field, to 0.48 Mg ha−1, in the low fertility field. Shoot N accumulation ranged from a maximum of 486 kg N ha−1 in AEZ 2, to a minimum of 10 kg N ha−1 in AEZ 3. Based on shoot biomass estimates, the species fixed 25–90% of their N requirements in AEZ 2, 23–90% in AEZ 1, and 7–77% in AEZ 3. Mean N2-fixation by green manure legumes ranged from 319 kg ha−1 (velvet bean) in AEZ 2 to 29 kg ha−1 (jackbean) in AEZ 3. For the forage legumes, mean N2-fixation ranged from 97 kg N ha−1 for desmodium in AEZ 2 to 39 kg N ha−1 for siratro in AEZ 3, while for the grain legumes, the range was from 172 kg N ha−1 for lablab in AEZ 1 to 3 kg N ha−1 for soyabean-P in AEZ 3. Lablab and groundnut showed consistently greater N2-fixation and net N inputs across agro-ecological and soil fertility gradients. The use of maize as reference crop resulted in lower N2-fixation values than when broad-leaved weed plants were used. The results demonstrate differential contributions of the green manure, forage and grain legume species to soil fertility improvement in different biophysical niches in smallholder farming systems and suggest that appropriate selection is needed to match species with the niches and farmers’ needs.

Evaluation of soil physical properties as influenced by various green manuring legumes and phosphorus fertilization under rain fed conditions

A field experiment was conducted under rainfed environment of Pothowar region of Pakistan to assess physical properties of soil as influenced by various green manure legumes (sesbania, cluster bean and rice bean) and different P levels (0, 30, 60, 90 kg P2O5/ha). Highest fresh biomass was observed in sesbania (23 t/ha) followed by cluster bean (19 t/ha) and lowest in rice bean (17 t/ha). Maximum crude protein content was found in sesbania (17%) followed by rice bean (10%) and cluster bean (8%). Green manuring crops, on average reduced soil bulk density (5%), enhanced total porosity (8%), and macropores and large mesopores (28%). Maximum reduction (7%) in soil bulk density, and an increase (11%) in total soil porosity and available water (17%) was observed in plots where sesbania was incorporated as green manuring crop. The order of effectiveness in improving bulk density, macro and mesopores was sesbania > cluster bean > rice bean. Sesbania produced greater number of macro and large mesopores about 41% increase over control followed by cluster bean (29%) and rice bean (16%). Phosphorus application showed meager positive impact on various soil physical properties but did not significantly increased porosity or reduced bulk density. Significant differences in volume fraction in pore space suggest that pore space on a volume basis was much higher in sesbania-amended soil than in other treatments.

Influence of Fertilizers Applied to a Paddy−Upland Rotation on Characteristics of Soil Organic Carbon and Humic Acids

The qualitative and quantitative characteristics of soil organic carbon (SOC) and related humic acids (HAs) extracted from the soils of field plots were investigated after 8 years of annual paddy (Oryza sativa L.) and upland maize (Zea mays L.) rotation with various fertilizations. Seven fertilization treatments were selected: Ck (no inputs); Chem (chemical fertilizer of NPK); Comp (swine compost); Comp + 33% of Chem N rate; Comp + 67% of Chem N rate; GM (legume green manure) + 33% of Chem N rate; and peat + 33% of Chem N rate. Organic and inorganic nitrogen inputs of six treatments were equivalent with respect of nitrogen content, but Comp, GM, and peat treatments were complemented with various amounts of inorganic N. After harvest of the eighth paddy crop, surface soil samples collected from the plots were subjected to soil characterizations and extraction of humic substances, which were used for chemical, spectroscopic (FTIR, 13C NMR, ESR, X-ray diffractometry), delta13C, and 14C dating analyses. The yields of HAs extracted from the seven treatments were significantly different. Treatment containing persistent organic compound such as the peat + 33% N treatment increased the humification process in topsoils and produced higher yield of HA. Spectroscopic analyses revealed that fertilization treatments changed the functional groups, alkyl C, crystalline characteristics, and delta13C ratios of HAs and turnover rate of SOC considerably. The SOC of the peat + 33% N treatment had the highest mean residence time of 3100 years. Various fertilizer treatments are correlated with turnover rate of SOC and related HAs, which are associated with concerned carbon sequestration as well as mitigation of CO2 emission in the soil environment.

(156) Improved Cover Crop Establishment and Growth Is Related to Planting Date in Organic Concord Grape Production

Concord grape (Vitis labrusca L.) accounts for a majority of juice grapes produced in Washington State. Because synthetic nutrients are not permissible in USDA organically-certified production systems, legume cover crops are used to supply nitrogen (N) to the crop. In order to supply a sufficient amount of N, the cover crop must successfully establish and produce large quantities of biomass. This study evaluates how the planting date influences emergence and biomass production of hairy vetch (Vicia villosa subsp. villosa L.) and yellow sweet clover [Melilotus officinalis (L.) Lam.] when used as legume green manures. The research was conducted on a commercial vineyard and a research vineyard from 2003–05. Treatments for the study consisted of yellow sweet clover and hairy vetch planted in both the spring and fall. Plots receiving soluble N sources were planted with wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) or rye (Secale cereale L.). Because of the large relative seed sizes of rye, wheat, and hairy vetch compared to yellow sweet clover, these treatments established faster with good stands in 2004. In 2005, clover plots had high emergence and biomass production because of water management modifications. Biomass data from the commercial vineyard in May 2005 indicates that fall-planted vetch produced more biomass than spring-planted vetch. Fall-planted hairy vetch and yellow sweet clover in the research vineyard showed higher biomass production than spring- and fall-planted hairy vetch and yellow sweet clover. When hairy vetch and yellow sweet clover are planted in the fall, they generally have better seedling emergence and biomass production due to the heightened aggressiveness exhibited by competing weed species during late spring and summer.