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Nitrogen fixation and transfer in grass-clover leys under organic and conventional cropping systems

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Abstract

Background and aim

Symbiotic dinitrogen (N2) fixation is the most important external N source in organic systems. Our objective was to compare symbiotic N2 fixation of clover grown in organically and conventionally cropped grass-clover leys, while taking into account nutrient supply gradients.

Methods

We studied leys of a 30-year-old field experiment over 2 years in order to compare organic and conventional systems at two fertilization levels. Using 15N natural abundance methods, we determined the proportion of N derived from the atmosphere (PNdfa), the amount of Ndfa (ANdfa), and the transfer of clover N to grasses for both red clover (Trifolium pratense L.) and white clover (Trifolium repens L.).

Results

In all treatments and both years, PNdfa was high (83 to 91 %), indicating that the N2 fixation process is not constrained, even not in the strongly nutrient deficient non-fertilized control treatment. Annual ANdfa in harvested clover biomass ranged from 6 to 16 g N m−2. At typical fertilizer input levels, lower sward yield in organic than those in conventional treatments had no effect on ANdfa because of organic treatments had greater clover proportions. In two-year-old leys, on average, 51 % of N taken up by grasses was transferred from clover.

Conclusion

Both, organically and conventionally cropped grass-clover leys profited from symbiotic N2 fixation, with high PNdfa, and important transfer of clover N to grasses, provided sufficient potassium- and phosphorus-availability to sustain clover biomass production.

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Abbreviations

ANdfa:

Amount of nitrogen in clover derived from the atmosphere

BIODYN:

Bio-dynamic cropping (with a number 1 or 2 added to indicate low or typical fertilization levels respectively)

BIOORG:

Bio-organic cropping (with a number 1 or 2 added to indicate low or typical fertilization levels respectively)

CONFYM:

Conventional cropping with mineral fertilization and animal manure (with a number 1 or 2 added to indicate low or typical fertilization levels respectively)

CTRLMIN:

Control with mineral fertilization at a typical level

CTRLNON:

Non-fertilized control

DOK:

Long term field experiment comparing bio-Dynamic bio-Organic and conventional (in German Konventionell) cropping systems

GC:

Grass-clover ley (with a number 1 or 2 added to indicate 1- or 2-year-old swards)

PNdfa:

Proportion of nitrogen in clover derived from the atmosphere

PNdfc:

Proportion of nitrogen in grass derived from clover

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Acknowledgments

We warmly thank the field staff of ART and FiBL for maintenance of the DOK experiment and Lucie Gunst (ART) for data records. We acknowledge the technical staff of ETH and ART, and student helpers for their support in sampling and sample preparation, Thomas Flura and Irena Jansowa (both ETH) for analytical work, and Myles Stocki (Soil Science Department, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Canada) for mass spectrometry. Helpful discussion inputs from Andreas Hammelehle (ART) and advice in statistics by Anna Drewek (ETH) are gratefully acknowledged.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. ETH Zurich, Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Eschikon 33, 8315, Lindau, Switzerland

    A. Oberson, E. Frossard & C. Bühlmann

  2. Agroscope Reckenholz-Tänikon Research Station (ART), Reckenholzstrasse 191, 8046, Zurich, Switzerland

    J. Mayer & A. Lüscher

  3. Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (FiBL), Ackerstrasse, 5070, Frick, Switzerland

    P. Mäder

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  1. A. Oberson
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  2. E. Frossard
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  3. C. Bühlmann
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  4. J. Mayer
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  5. P. Mäder
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  6. A. Lüscher
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Correspondence to A. Oberson.

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Oberson, A., Frossard, E., Bühlmann, C. et al. Nitrogen fixation and transfer in grass-clover leys under organic and conventional cropping systems. Plant Soil 371, 237–255 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-013-1666-4

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