Maintaining grain yields of the perennial cereal intermediate wheatgrass in monoculture v. bi-culture with alfalfa in the Upper Midwestern USA
| Autor: | Jacob M. Jungers, Craig C. Sheaffer, Donald L. Wyse, Nicole E. Tautges, Lee R. DeHaan |
|---|---|
| Rok vydání: | 2018 |
| Předmět: |
0106 biological sciences
Nutrient cycle Perennial plant biology food and beverages Intercropping 04 agricultural and veterinary sciences biology.organism_classification 01 natural sciences Crop Nutrient Agronomy 040103 agronomy & agriculture Genetics Thinopyrum intermedium 0401 agriculture forestry and fisheries Animal Science and Zoology Monoculture Agronomy and Crop Science Legume 010606 plant biology & botany |
| Zdroj: | The Journal of Agricultural Science. 156:758-773 |
| ISSN: | 1469-5146 0021-8596 |
| DOI: | 10.1017/s0021859618000680 |
| Popis: | Intermediate wheatgrass (Thinopyrum intermedium; IWG) is a perennial cereal crop undergoing development for grain production; however, grain yield declines of >75% are often observed after year 2 of the perennial stand and may be linked to soil nutrient depletion. Intercropping IWG with a perennial legume such as alfalfa (Medicago sativa) could benefit nutrient cycling while increasing agroecological diversity. Intermediate wheatgrass was established at five environmentally diverse sites in Minnesota, USA in (1) bi-culture with alfalfa, (2) non-fertilized monoculture and (3) monoculture fertilized annually in the spring with 80 kg N/ha. At northern sites where alfalfa growth was favoured, IWG grain yields were reduced in year 2 by growing IWG in bi-culture with alfalfa, relative to the monoculture systems. Across all sites IWG grain yield decreased by 90% in the non-fertilized monoculture, 80% in the fertilized monoculture and 65% in the bi-culture from year 2 to 4 and plant macronutrient concentrations decreased by 25–70%. In year 4, IWG grain yield was similar or greater in the bi-culture than the fertilized monoculture at three of the five sites and alfalfa biomass was correlated positively with grain yield, harvest index and nutrient uptake in the year 4 bi-culture. Chemical-nitrogen fertilization increased grain yields in year 2 but did not mitigate the decline in yields as stands aged. Intermediate wheatgrass in the bi-culture had similar yields and nutrient uptake and lower yield declines than the chemically fertilized stand at sites where alfalfa growth was maintained throughout the life of the stand. |
| Databáze: | OpenAIRE |
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