{Tool} To N-fertilize cereal-legume intercrops or not? (ReMIX Practice abstract). Creator(s): Justes, Eric and Bedoussac, Laurent. Issuing Organisation(s): Cirad - La recherche agronomique pour le développement, ENSEFA - The National Teacher Training School in Agronomy, INRAE - National Research Institute for Agriculture, Food and the Environment, IFOAM EU. ReMIX Practice abstracts, no. 3. (2020)
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(To N-fertilize cereal-legume intercrops or not?)
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Document available online at: https://www.remix-intercrops.eu/content/download/4095/38997/version/1/file/%2312%20Is%20it%20useful%20to%20N%20fertilise%20intercrops%20for%20improving%20their%20yield_final.pdf
Summary
Outcome
Intercropping cereal-legume usually results in a higher cereal grain protein concentration compared to sole crop cereal, and the greatest benefit is always obtained without N-fertilizer.
Practical recommendations
• The efficiency of synthetic N-fertilizer is generally high (> 75% of N applied). It always increases the proportion of cereal in an intercrop with legumes, regardless of the sowing density and pedoclimatic conditions.
• The efficiency of organic N-fertilizer is always low (< 20%), so it is not relevant to apply in organic farming.
• For winter intercrops (e.g. wheat-winter pea), the N fertilization must be adapted and based on the: i) proportion of species observed in March, ii) grain yield targeted, and iii) proportion of the two species expected at harvest. To increase cereal grain yield, N-fertilizer could be applied during stem elongation (40-80 kg N/ha), while to increase the cereal grain protein concentration, it should be applied at earing (30-50 kg N/ha).
• For spring intercrops (e.g. spring barley-spring pea), no N fertilization is generally required, except to ensure a high proportion of cereal grains at harvest by applying N-fertilizer at the end of tillering (30-60 kg N/ha).
Practical testing/ Farmers’ experiences
Farmers should try different N fertilization rates and/or times, for example, in strips across a field, to visually compare the effect of N fertilization on yield, species proportion and cereal grain protein concentration. Start with a small number of rates and/or times (including no fertilizer) and repeat the test for more than a year to improve know-how.
EPrint Type: | Practice tool |
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Teaser: | Intercropping with legumes improves protein content of cereals and reduces N fertilization. |
What problem does the tool address?: | The necessity of nitrogen (N) fertilization of cereal-legume intercrops is debatable since this mixture could benefit from complementary N sources (from soil and atmospheric N2). How to determine the necessity of N fertilizer in intercrop? |
What solution does the tool offer?: | The relevance of N fertilization depends on the farmer’s objectives in terms of grains proportion between the cereal and the legume at harvest and cereal grain protein concentration. |
Country: | France |
Type of Practice Tool: | Practice abstracts |
Keywords: | cropping systems, diversification, arable farming, low input agriculture, Intercropping, cereal crops, legumes, nitrogen, nutrient management |
Agrovoc keywords: | Language Value URI English cropping systems http://aims.fao.org/aos/agrovoc/c_1971 English diversification http://aims.fao.org/aos/agrovoc/c_2344 English arable farming http://aims.fao.org/aos/agrovoc/c_36528 English low input agriculture http://aims.fao.org/aos/agrovoc/c_34370 English intercropping http://aims.fao.org/aos/agrovoc/c_3910 English cereal crops http://aims.fao.org/aos/agrovoc/c_25512 English legumes http://aims.fao.org/aos/agrovoc/c_4255 English nitrogen http://aims.fao.org/aos/agrovoc/c_5192 English nutrient management http://aims.fao.org/aos/agrovoc/c_330697 |
Subjects: | Crop husbandry > Crop combinations and interactions Crop husbandry > Production systems > Cereals, pulses and oilseeds Crop husbandry > Composting and manuring |
Research affiliation: | European Union > Horizon 2020 > Remix France > INRAe - Institut national de recherche pour l’agriculture, l’alimentation et l’environnement France > CIRAD - Centre de coopération internationale en recherche agronomique pour le développement France > Other organizations International Organizations > International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements IFOAM > IFOAM Organics Europe |
Horizon Europe or H2020 Grant Agreement Number: | 727217 |
Related Links: | https://www.remix-intercrops.eu/, https://www.cirad.fr/, https://www.inrae.fr/en, http://www.enfa.fr/, https://www.organicseurope.bio/ |
Deposited By: | De Simone, Dr. Ambra |
ID Code: | 39712 |
Deposited On: | 21 Apr 2021 08:49 |
Last Modified: | 15 Mar 2023 10:59 |
Document Language: | English |
Status: | Published |
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