Cover Crop Selection by Jointly Optimizing Biomass Productivity, Biological Nitrogen Fixation, and Transpiration Efficiency: Application to Two Crotalaria Species

Abstract

Crotalaria spectabilis and Crotalaria juncea are cover crops (CC) that are used in many different regions. Among the main attributes of these species are their high potential for biomass production and biological fixation of nitrogen (BNF). Attempting to maximize these attributes, while minimizing water consumption through high transpiration efficiency (TE), is a challenge in the design of sustainable agricultural rotations. In this study, the relationship between biomass productivity, BNF, and TE in C. spectabilis and C. juncea was evaluated. For this purpose, an experiment was carried out under controlled conditions without water limitations and using non-inoculated soil. BNF was determined by the natural abundance of 15N, while TE was estimated by several different methods, such as gravimetric or isotopic method (13C). C. juncea produced 42% less dry matter, fixed 28% less nitrogen from the air, and had 20% less TE than C. spectabilis. TE results in both species were consistent across methodologies. Under simulated environmental conditions of high temperature and non-limiting soil water content, C. spectabilis was a relatively more promising species than C. juncea to be used as CC.

Closing Biogeochemical Cycles and Meeting Plant Requirements by Smart Fertilizers and Innovative Organic Amendments

“…In this context, use of legumes as cover crops in agricultural rotations may reduce the production costs associated with the use of mineral N fertilizers, and also result in environmental benefits. In order to optimize biomass productivity, biological nitrogen fixation, and transpiration efficiency, Berriel et al [36] evaluated the application of two Crotalaria species, specifically C. juncea and C. spectabilis grown under extreme environmental conditions with the finality to maximize their beneficial attributes, while minimizing water consumption through high transpiration. Their results showed that the C. spectabilis has advantages as legumes cover crop over C. juncea, in terms of transpiration as indicated by a 13 C isotopic analyses.…”

Influence of plants used in agricultural diversification on the nematode Heterorhabditis amazonensis

“…Plants of the Crotalaria genus are widely used as cover crops or in partnership with other cultures having a large biomass capacity and biological nitrogen fixation (by the symbiosis that they perform with bacteria of the Rhizobium genus) (Berriel, Monza, & Perdomo, 2020). Furthermore, they attract a great diversity of insects and natural enemies (Supriyadi, Wijayanti, Arniputri, Puspitarini, & Dwiyatno, 2019;Tavares et al, 2010).…”

Crotolaria juncea L., A NEW LEGUME CROP FOR CULTIVATION IN RUSSIA: CHARACTERIZATION AND PROSPECTS (review)

“…Д а л ь н е й ш и е п е р с п е к т и в ы и с с л е д о в а н и я к у л ь т у р ы. В современном мире растет потребность в производстве волокна и развитии технологии органического земледелия. Поскольку кроталярия может выращиваться в больших коммерческих масштабах как покровная и лубяная культура (118), во многих странах мира идет процесс ее постепенной интродукции в диверсифицированные севообороты в качестве сидеральной культуры для улучшения здоровья почвенных экосистем и уменьшения численности галловых нематод. Эффективным агротехническим приемом, повышающим адаптацию культуры к условиям определенной почвенно-климатической зоны, может служить использование биопрепаратов на основе консорциума полезных микроорганизмов -клубеньковых и ассоциативных ризобактерий, а также грибов арбускулярной микоризы.…”