Nitrogen Fixation of Faba Bean (Vicia faba L.) Interacting with a Non-legume in Two Contrasting Intercropping Systems |
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Authors: | Fenliang Fan Fusuo Zhang Yana Song Jianhao Sun Xingguo Bao Tianwen Guo Long Li |
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Institution: | (1) College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, China Agricultural University, 100094 Beijing, P.R. China;(2) Institute of Soils and Fertilizers, Gansu Academy of Agricultural Sciences, 730070 Lanzhou, P.R. China;(3) Biology Technological Centers, Fujian Academy of Agricultural Sciences, 350003 Fuzhou, P.R. China |
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Abstract: | A field experiment was carried out to quantify biological nitrogen fixation (BNF) using the 15N isotope natural abundance method in maize (Zea mays L.)/faba bean (Vicia faba L.) and wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)/faba bean intercropping systems. Faba bean was yielding more in the maize/faba bean intercropping, but not in the wheat/faba
bean intercropping. Biomass, grain yield and N acquisition of faba bean were significantly increased when intercropped with
maize, and decreased significantly with wheat, irrespective of N-fertilizer application, indicating that the legume could
gain or lose productivity in an intercropping situation. There was yield advantage of maize/faba bean intercropping, but no
in wheat/faba bean intercropping. The grain yield of the faba bean intercropped with maize was greater than that of faba bean
monoculture due to increases of the stems per plant and the pods per stem of faba bean. N fertilization inhibited N fixation
of faba bean in maize/faba bean and wheat/faba bean intercropping and faba bean monoculture. The responses of different cropping
systems to N-fertilizer application, however, were not identical, with competitive intercropping (wheat/faba bean) being more
sensitive than facilitative intercropping (maize/faba bean). Intercropping increased the percentage of N derived from air
(%Ndfa) of the wheat/faba bean system, but not that of the maize/faba bean system when no N fertilizer was applied. When receiving
120 kg N/ha, however, intercropping did not significantly increase %Ndfa either in the wheat/faba bean system or in the maize/faba
bean system in comparison with faba bean in monoculture. The amount of shoot N derived from air (Ndfa), however, increased
significantly when intercropped with maize, irrespective of N-fertilizer application. Ndfa decreased when intercropped with
wheat, albeit not significantly at 120 kg N/ha. Ndfa was correlated more closely with dry matter yield, grain yield and competitive
ratio, than with %Ndfa. This indicates that that total dry matter yield (sink strength), not %Ndfa, was more critical for
the legume to increase Ndfa. The results suggested that N fixation could be improved by yield maximization in an intercropping
system. |
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Keywords: | biological nitrogen fixation dominant species interspecific interactions 15N isotope natural abundance maize/faba bean subordinate species wheat/faba bean %Ndfa %Ndfs δ 15N |
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