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Stepwise incorporation of white clover (Trifolium repens L.)as fertiliser increases nitrogen fixation and improves nitrogen retention when intercropped with leek (Allium porrum L.)

Xie, Yue; Sørensen, Jørn Nygaard; Petersen, Karen Koefoed and Kristensen, Hanne Lakkenborg (2018) Stepwise incorporation of white clover (Trifolium repens L.)as fertiliser increases nitrogen fixation and improves nitrogen retention when intercropped with leek (Allium porrum L.). Plant and Soil, 422, pp. 541-554.

[thumbnail of Xie et al Plant and Soil 2018.pdf] PDF - Published Version - English
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Document available online at: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11104-017-3471-y


Summary

Background and aims
We investigated whether the incorporation of intercropped white clover as a split-dose fertiliser improves N retention of the plant-soil system in leek production.
Methods
White clover and leek were grown in pots where clover was stepwise incorporated into soil as fertiliser. Half of the clover was incorporated before leek transplantation (LT), the other half was incorporated 26 (S1) or 41 (S2) days after LT, compared with full incorporation of all clover (F) before LT. 15N injection and leaching studies were performed to investigate interspecific competition and the effects of precipitation on soil N availability.
Results
Stepwise incorporations increased or had no effect on leek growth, despite competition for N between white clover and leek. Compared to F, leek grown with stepwise incorporations had similar and lower N accumulation before the second incorporation, but N was higher at the end of the experiment. N2 fixation by white clover increased the total N input into soil and matched N availability with leek N demand and growth rate. Loss of inorganic N by leaching was lowest in S2 and highest in F.
Conclusions
Stepwise incorporations of white clover improved N retention in the plant-soil system and could be used to increase leek yield.


EPrint Type:Journal paper
Keywords:Catch crop, Competition, Green manure, Net mineralisation, Nitrate leaching
Subjects: Soil > Soil quality
Crop husbandry > Crop combinations and interactions
Crop husbandry > Composting and manuring
Soil > Nutrient turnover
Crop husbandry > Soil tillage
Crop husbandry > Production systems > Vegetables
Research affiliation: European Union > CORE Organic Plus > SoilVeg
Denmark > AU - Aarhus University > Faculty of Science and Technology > Department of Food Science
Denmark > GUDP
ISSN:0032-079X
DOI:doi.org/10.1007/s11104-017-3471-y
Deposited By: Kristensen, Ph.D. Hanne Lakkenborg
ID Code:34289
Deposited On:27 Dec 2018 11:33
Last Modified:02 Apr 2019 14:51
Document Language:English
Status:Published
Refereed:Peer-reviewed and accepted

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