Mixed cropping systems can constitute important agroecological adaptation strategies for enhancing crop growth and productivity in view of climate change, while reducing the need for synthetic fertilizers and providing important ecosystem services. The aim of this study was to investigate growth, competitiveness, and productivity of two forage mixtures combining triticale (X triticosecale Wittmack) to common vetch (Vicia sativa L.), and to fenugreek (Trigonella fœnum-græcum L.) in different mixture combinations (40% T–60% V vs. 60% T–40% V and 40% T–60% F vs. 60% T–40% F). Field results showed that both forage legumes were higher inside the different crop mixtures (+225% for vetch, +94% for fenugreek) than in monocropping. In regard to the competition ration (CR), triticale was the more dominant and competitive species in three out of four studied mixtures. Forage yield was higher in crop mixtures than for corresponding sole crops. Yield gain was greater for common vetch-based mixtures than fenugreek ones (+60% vs. +30%). The results show that using cereal–legume mixtures can provide important productivity increase for fodder yield compared to conventional pure crops. The method is an important adaptive agricultural strategy in view of climate change.
There is an increasing interest in the agricultural application of organic waste such as soil amendment, due to the possibility of recycling valuable components, organic matter, and nutrient elements necessary for plant growth. The present study was carried out to evaluate the effects of sewage sludge, and green waste compost application, on a forage crop, triticale "X Triticosecale Wittmack" compared to unfertilized control. The experimental design was installed in the glasshouse conditions at the Regional Field Crop Research Center in Beja, Tunisia. Sewage sludge and green waste compost were added by four rates (0, 5, 10, and 20 t/ha) in soil, 15 days before triticale sowing. The main results showed that plant response differs depending on the type of adding fertilizer. Indeed, compost inputs decreased shoot length and production of triticale, among all sewage sludge rates, by average values of 26 and 60% respectively at final harvest, as compared to unamended soil. However, amendment with different rates of sewage sludge significantly (p < 0.05) increased different plant growth and yield attributes.
A pot experiment was conducted to assess the fate and recovery of urea-N applied to sorghum (Sorghum sudanense) both in the presence and in the absence of sewage sludge. For a better understanding of the interaction between urea N and N originating from sewage sludge, 15N isotope technique was used. 15N-labeled urea was added to soil at 0, 60, 100 kg N.ha-1, and unlabeled sewage sludge was added at 0 and 45 kg N.ha-1. In the absence of sewage sludge, 15N recovery (15NR) was 34% of the 15N- Urea applied at 60 kg N.ha-1. It increased to 55% as the urea N rate increased to 100 kg N.ha-1. Co-application of sewage sludge with the highest dose of urea led to a decrease of urea 15NR by 11% as compared to that in the absence of sewage sludge. Application of sewage sludge significantly improved the immobilization of urea-derived N in soil, from 13 to 42 % and from 24 to 31% of 60 and 100 kg N urea applied respectively. Thus, sewage sludge ensured prolonged and continued availability of fertilizer N to plants thereby leading to reduce N loss and to higher fertilizer use efficiency.
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