New ley legumes increase nitrogen fixation and availability and grain crop yields in subtropical cropping systems
Lindsay W. Bell A D , John Lawrence A , Brian Johnson B and Mark B. Peoples C
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations
A CSIRO Agriculture and Food, 203 Tor St, Toowoomba, Qld 4350, Australia.
B Department of Agriculture and Fisheries, Queensland, 203 Tor St, Toowoomba, Qld 4350, Australia.
C CSIRO Agriculture and Food, PO Box 1700, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia.
D Corresponding author. Email: Lindsay.Bell@csiro.au
Crop and Pasture Science 68(1) 11-26 https://doi.org/10.1071/CP16248
Submitted: 11 July 2016 Accepted: 1 December 2016 Published: 3 January 2017
Abstract
Several new and existing short-term forage legumes could be used to provide nitrogen (N) inputs for grain crops in subtropical farming systems. The fixed-N inputs from summer-growing forage legumes lablab (Lablab purpureus), burgundy bean (Macroptilium bracteatum) and lucerne (Medicago sativa) and winter-growing legume species snail medic (Medicago scutellata), sulla (Hedysarum coronarium) and purple vetch (Vicia benghalensis) were compared over several growing seasons at four locations in southern Queensland, Australia. Available soil mineral N and grain yield of a following cereal crop were compared among summer-growing legumes and forage sorghum (Sorghum spp. hybrid) and among winter-growing legumes and forage oats (Avena sativa). In the first year at all sites, legumes utilised the high initial soil mineral N, with <30% of the legume N estimated to have been derived from atmospheric N2 (%Ndfa) and legume-fixed N <30 kg/ha. In subsequent years, once soil mineral N had been depleted, %Ndfa increased to 50–70% in the summer-growing legumes and to 60–80% in winter-growing legumes. However, because forage shoot N was removed, rarely did fixed N provide a positive N balance. Both lablab and burgundy bean fixed up to 150 kg N/ha, which was more than lucerne in all seasons. Prior to sowing cereal grain crops, soil nitrate was 30–50 kg/ha higher after summer legumes than after forage sorghum. At one site, lablab and lucerne increased the growth and yield of a subsequent grain sorghum crop by 1.4 t/ha compared with growth after forage sorghum or burgundy bean. Of the winter-growing legumes, sulla had the highest total N2 fixation (up to 150 kg N/ha.year) and inputs of fixed N (up to 75 kg N/ha), and resulted in the highest concentrations of soil N (80–100 kg N/ha more than oats) before sowing of the following crop. Wheat protein was increased after winter legumes, but there was no observed yield benefit for wheat or grain sorghum crops.
New forage legume options, lablab, burgundy bean and sulla, showed potential to increase N supply in crop rotations in subtropical farming systems, contributing significant fixed N (75–150 kg/ha) and increasing available soil N for subsequent crops compared to non-legume forage crops. However, high soil mineral N (>50 kg N/ha) greatly reduced N2 fixation by forage legumes, and significant N2 fixation only occurred once legume shoot N uptake exceeded soil mineral N at the start of the growing season. Further work is required to explore the impact of different management strategies, such as livestock grazing rather than harvesting for hay, on the long-term implications for nutrient supply for subsequent crops.
Additional keywords: alfalfa, rotation, hay production, 15N natural abundance, N2 fixation, water-use efficiency.
References
Angus JF, Peoples MB (2012) Nitrogen from Australian dryland pastures. Crop & Pasture Science 63, 746–758.| Nitrogen from Australian dryland pastures.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Armstrong RD, McKosker K, Millar GR, Walsh K, Johnson S, Probert ME (1997) Improved nitrogen supply to cereals in central Queensland following short legume leys. Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture 37, 359–368.
| Improved nitrogen supply to cereals in central Queensland following short legume leys.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Armstrong RD, McCosker K, Johnson S, Millar G, Walsh K, Kuskopf B, Probert ME, Standley J (1999a) Legume and opportunity cropping systems in central Queensland. 1. Legume growth, nitrogen fixation, and water use. Australian Journal of Agricultural Research 50, 909–924.
| Legume and opportunity cropping systems in central Queensland. 1. Legume growth, nitrogen fixation, and water use.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Armstrong RD, McCosker K, Millar G, Kuskopf B, Johnson S, Walsh K, Probert ME, Standley J (1999b) Legume and opportunity cropping systems in central Queensland. 2. Effect of legumes on following crops. Australian Journal of Agricultural Research 50, 925–936.
| Legume and opportunity cropping systems in central Queensland. 2. Effect of legumes on following crops.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Bell M, Moody P, Klepper K, Lawrence D (2010) The challenge to sustainability of broadacre grain cropping systems on clay soils in northern Australia. In ‘Soil solutions for a changing world. Proceedings 19th World Soils Congress’. 1–6 August 2010, Brisbane, Qld. pp. 301–305. (DVD-ROM) (International Union of Soil Sciences)
Bell LW, Lawrence J, Johnson B, Whitbread A (2012) Exploring short-term ley legumes in subtropical grain systems: production, water-use, water-use efficiency and economics of tropical and temperate options. Crop & Pasture Science 63, 819–832.
| Exploring short-term ley legumes in subtropical grain systems: production, water-use, water-use efficiency and economics of tropical and temperate options.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Clem RL (2004) Animal production from legume-based ley pastures in south-eastern Queensland. In ‘Tropical legumes for sustainable farming systems in southern Africa and Australia’. (Eds AM Whitbread, BC Pengelly) pp. 136–144. (Australian Centre of International Agricultural Research: Canberra, ACT)
Clem RL, Cook BG (2004) Identification and development of forage species for long-term ley pasture leys for the southern Speargrass region of Queensland. In ‘Tropical legumes for sustainable farming systems in southern Africa and Australia’. (Eds AM Whitbread, BC Pengelly) pp. 64–80. (Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research: Canberra, ACT)
Dalal RC, Mayer RJ (1986) Long term trends in fertility of soils under continuous cultivation and cereal cropping in southern Queensland. I. Overall changes in soil properties and trends in winter cereal yields. Australian Journal of Soil Research 24, 265–279.
| Long term trends in fertility of soils under continuous cultivation and cereal cropping in southern Queensland. I. Overall changes in soil properties and trends in winter cereal yields.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DyaL28XkvFKmsL8%3D&md5=de18d2a03a46ea97a699c6c9c158ce66CAS |
Dalal RC, Weston EJ, Strong WM, Lehane KJ, Cooper JE, Wildermuth GB, King AJ, Holmes CJ (2004a) Sustaining productivity of a Vertosol at Warra, Queensland, with fertilisers, no-tillage or legumes. 7. Yield, nitrogen and disease-break benefits from lucerne in a two-year lucerne–wheat rotation. Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture 44, 607–616.
| Sustaining productivity of a Vertosol at Warra, Queensland, with fertilisers, no-tillage or legumes. 7. Yield, nitrogen and disease-break benefits from lucerne in a two-year lucerne–wheat rotation.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Dalal RC, Weston EJ, Strong WM, Lehane KJ, Cooper JE, Wildermuth GB, King AJ, Holmes CJ (2004b) Sustaining productivity of a Vertosol at Warra, Queensland, with fertilisers, no-tillage or legumes. 8. Effect of duration of lucerne ley on soil nitrogen and water, wheat yield and protein. Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture 44, 1013–1024.
| Sustaining productivity of a Vertosol at Warra, Queensland, with fertilisers, no-tillage or legumes. 8. Effect of duration of lucerne ley on soil nitrogen and water, wheat yield and protein.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Dalzell SA, Brandon NJ, Jones RM (1997) Response of Lablab purpureus cv. Highworth, Macroptilium bracteatum and Macrotyloma daltonii to different intensities and frequencies of cutting. Tropical Grasslands 31, 107–113.
de Koning C, Lloyd D, Hughes S, McLachlan D, Crocker G, Craig A (2003) Hedysarum, a new temperate forage legume with great potential—Field evaluation. In ‘Solutions for a better environment. Proceedings 11th Australian Agronomy Conference’. 2–6 February 2003, Geelong, Vic. (Eds M Unkovich, G O’Leary) (The Regional Institute: Gosford, NSW) http://agronomyaustraliaproceedings.org/images/sampledata/2003/c/14/dekoning.pdf
Herridge DF, Marcellos H, Felton WL, Turner GL, Peoples MB (1995) Chickpea increases soil-N fertility in cereal systems through nitrate sparing and N2 fixation. Soil Biology & Biochemistry 27, 545–551.
| Chickpea increases soil-N fertility in cereal systems through nitrate sparing and N2 fixation.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DyaK2MXlt12rtr4%3D&md5=5b28b6ba1e93ec6a55a5928587510517CAS |
Högberg P (1997) Tansley Review No. 95. 15N natural abundance in soil–plant systems. New Phytologist 137, 179–203.
| Tansley Review No. 95. 15N natural abundance in soil–plant systems.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Holford ICR (1980) Effects of duration of grazed lucerne on long-term yields and nitrogen uptake of subsequent wheat. Australian Journal of Agricultural Research 31, 239–250.
| Effects of duration of grazed lucerne on long-term yields and nitrogen uptake of subsequent wheat.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Holford ICR, Crocker GJ (1997) A comparison of chickpeas and pasture legumes for sustaining yields and nitrogen status of subsequent wheat. Australian Journal of Agricultural Research 48, 305–315.
| A comparison of chickpeas and pasture legumes for sustaining yields and nitrogen status of subsequent wheat.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Hossain SA, Waring SA, Strong WM, Dalal RC, Weston EJ (1995) Estimates of nitrogen fixation by legumes in alternate cropping systems at Warra, Queensland, using 15N dilution and natural 15N abundance techniques. Australian Journal of Agricultural Research 46, 493–505.
| Estimates of nitrogen fixation by legumes in alternate cropping systems at Warra, Queensland, using 15N dilution and natural 15N abundance techniques.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Isbell RF (1996) ‘The Australian Soil Classification.’ (CSIRO Publishing: Melbourne)
Jones RK, Probert ME, Dalgliesh NP, McCown RL (1996) Nitrogen inputs from a pasture legume in rotations with cereals in the semi-arid tropics of northern Australia: experimentation and modelling on a clay loam soil. Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture 36, 985–994.
| Nitrogen inputs from a pasture legume in rotations with cereals in the semi-arid tropics of northern Australia: experimentation and modelling on a clay loam soil.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Kirkegaard JA, Peoples MB, Angus JA, Unkovich M (2011) Diversity and evolution of rain-fed farming systems in southern Australia. In ‘Rainfed farming systems’. (Eds P Tow, I Cooper, I Partridge, C Birch) pp. 715–756. (Springer: Dordrecht, The Netherlands)
Lester D, O’Connor R, Johnson B, Lawrence DN, Grace P (2012) Greenhouse gas emissions from legume and grass pastures prior to cropping. In ‘Capturing opportunities and overcoming obstacles in Australian agronomy. Proceedings 16th Australian Agronomy Conference 2012’. 14–18 October 2012, Armidale, NSW. (Ed. I Yunusa) (The Regional Institute: Gosford, NSW) Available at: http://www.regional.org.au/au/asa/2012/climate-change/8266_lesterdw.htm#TopOfPage
McDonald LM, Wright P, MacLeod DA (2001) Nitrogen fixation by lablab (Lablab purpureus) and lucerne (Medicago sativa) rotation crops in an irrigated cotton farming system. Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture 41, 219–225.
| Nitrogen fixation by lablab (Lablab purpureus) and lucerne (Medicago sativa) rotation crops in an irrigated cotton farming system.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Murray-Prior RB, Whish JPM, Carberry P, Dalgleish NP (2005) Lucerne improves some sustainability indicators but may decrease profitability of cropping rotations on the Jimbour Plain. Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture 45, 651–663.
| Lucerne improves some sustainability indicators but may decrease profitability of cropping rotations on the Jimbour Plain.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Nichols P, Loi A, Nutt BJ, Evans PM, Craig AD, Pengelly BC, Dear BS, Lloyd DL, Revell CK, Nair RM, Ewing M, Howieson JG, Auricht GA, Howie JH, Sandral GA, Carr SJ, De Koning CT, Hackney BF, Crocker GJ, Snowball R, Hughes SJ, Hall EJ, Foster KJ, Skinner PW, Barbetti M, You MP (2007) New annual and short-lived perennial pasture legumes for Australian agriculture - 15 years of revolution. Field Crops Research 104, 10–23.
| New annual and short-lived perennial pasture legumes for Australian agriculture - 15 years of revolution.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Peoples MB, Bowman AM, Gault AM, Herridge RR, Mc DF, Callum MH, Mc KM, Cormick KM, Norton RM, Rochester IJ, Scammell GJ, Schwenke GD (2001) Factors regulating the contributions of fixed nitrogen by pasture and crop legumes to different farming systems of eastern Australia. Plant and Soil 228, 29–41.
| Factors regulating the contributions of fixed nitrogen by pasture and crop legumes to different farming systems of eastern Australia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD3MXhtlWkur8%3D&md5=66b93a72b68d41a11541f5b537dffad2CAS |
Peoples MB, Brockwell J, Hunt JR, Swan AD, Watson L, Hayes RC, Li GD, Hackney B, Nuttall JG, Davies SL, Fillery IRP (2012) Factors affecting the potential contributions of N2 fixation by legumes in Australian pasture systems. Crop & Pasture Science 63, 759–786.
| Factors affecting the potential contributions of N2 fixation by legumes in Australian pasture systems.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BC38XhvVSkt7jE&md5=f280103c31d091c12a40265d664cf3e2CAS |
Rayment GE, Higginson FR (1992) ‘Australian laboratory handbook of soil and water chemical methods.’ (Inkata Press Ltd: Melbourne)
Robinson D (2001) δ15N as an integrator of the nitrogen cycle. Trends in Ecology & Evolution 16, 153–162.
| δ15N as an integrator of the nitrogen cycle.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:STN:280:DC%2BC2sbktFGmsg%3D%3D&md5=9ce090680b832031e10582a64cf550d6CAS |
Singh DK, McGuckian N, Routley RA, Thomas GA, Dalal RC, Dang YP, Hall TJ, Strahan R, Christodoulou N, Cawley S, Ward L (2009) Poor adoption of ley-pastures in south-west Queensland: biophysical, economic and social constraints. Animal Production Science 49, 894–906.
| Poor adoption of ley-pastures in south-west Queensland: biophysical, economic and social constraints.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Thomas GA, Dalal RC, Weston EJ, Lehane KJ, King AJ, Orange DN, Holmes CJ, Wildermuth GB (2009) Pasture-crop rotations for sustainable production in a wheat and sheep-based farming system on a Vertosol in south-west Queensland, Australia. Animal Production Science 49, 682–695.
| Pasture-crop rotations for sustainable production in a wheat and sheep-based farming system on a Vertosol in south-west Queensland, Australia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Unkovich MJ, Pate JS, Sanford P, Armstrong EL (1994) Potential precision of the delta 15N natural abundance method in field estimates of nitrogen fixation by crop and pasture legumes in south-west Australia. Australian Journal of Agricultural Research 45, 119–132.
| Potential precision of the delta 15N natural abundance method in field estimates of nitrogen fixation by crop and pasture legumes in south-west Australia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Unkovich MJ, Herridge DF, Peoples MB, Cadisch G, Boddey RM, Giller KE, Alves B, Chalk PM (2008) ‘Measuring plant-associated nitrogen fixation in agricultural systems.’ (Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research: Canberra, ACT)
Unkovich MJ, Baldock J, Peoples MB (2010) Prospects and problems of simple linear models for estimating symbiotic N2 fixation by crop and pasture legumes. Plant and Soil 329, 75–89.
| Prospects and problems of simple linear models for estimating symbiotic N2 fixation by crop and pasture legumes.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BC3cXjtFGluro%3D&md5=a249b0e477c96e4eb065d3447af99926CAS |
Walsh KB (1995) Physiology of the legume nodule and its response to stress. Soil Biology & Biochemistry 27, 637–655.
| Physiology of the legume nodule and its response to stress.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DyaK2MXlt12rt7o%3D&md5=a8ed05b9889d80a80bc9987635962040CAS |
Weston EJ, Dalal RC, Strong WM, Lehane KJ, Cooper JE, King AJ, Holmes CJ (2002) Sustaining productivity of a Vertosol at Warra, Queensland, with fertilisers, no-tillage or legumes. 6. Production and nitrogen benefits from annual medic in rotation with wheat. Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture 42, 961–969.
| Sustaining productivity of a Vertosol at Warra, Queensland, with fertilisers, no-tillage or legumes. 6. Production and nitrogen benefits from annual medic in rotation with wheat.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Whitbread AM, Clem RL (2006) Graze to grain—measuring and modelling the effects of grazed pasture leys on soil nitrogen and sorghum yield on a Vertosol soil in the Australian subtropics. Australian Journal of Agricultural Research 57, 489–500.
| Graze to grain—measuring and modelling the effects of grazed pasture leys on soil nitrogen and sorghum yield on a Vertosol soil in the Australian subtropics.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Whitbread AM, Pengelly BC, Smith BR (2005) An evaluation of three tropical ley legumes for use in mixed farming systems on clay soils in southern inland Queensland, Australia. Tropical Grasslands 39, 9–21.
Wichern F, Eberhardt E, Mayer J, Joergensen RG, Mueller T (2008) Nitrogen rhizodeposition in agricultural crops: Methods, estimates and future prospects. Soil Biology & Biochemistry 40, 30–48.
| Nitrogen rhizodeposition in agricultural crops: Methods, estimates and future prospects.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD2sXhtF2iu7bJ&md5=29345cbb458fce6c8deb8a9e75cfea1fCAS |
