Articles
DIRECT SEEDING LEGUMES INTO ORCHARD ALLEYS FOR NITROGEN PRODUCTION
Article number
1001_37
Pages
329 – 334
Language
English
Abstract
The orchard drive alley is an under-utilized portion of many orchard ecosystems.
By planting leguminous species in this area, mowing the vegetation and blowing it onto the tree row where it mineralizes and releases available N over the tree roots, it may be possible to produce a significant portion of the nitrogen needs of the orchard for a lower cost than other organic nitrogen sources.
Four perennial legume species (alfalfa (Medicago sativa), ladino white clover (Trifolium repens), birdsfoot trefoil (Lotus corniculatus), kura clover (Trifolium ambiguum)) were compared with the resident grass cover crop in a mature apple (Malus ×domestica) orchard.
All legumes were direct-seeded into the alley to avoid any soil disturbance.
Legume species performed differently over time.
Ladino white clover established most quickly.
Alfalfa established well in Year 1 and increased biomass in the subsequent year.
Trefoil and kura clover were slowest to establish, and improved their stands over time.
Alfalfa contributed approximately 54 kg total N ha-1 orchard with four mowings during the second season (2009), with a dry matter C:N of 10. Screening these legumes for characteristics specific to orchards (e.g., shade tolerance, tolerance of tractor traffic) is needed to optimize their use.
By planting leguminous species in this area, mowing the vegetation and blowing it onto the tree row where it mineralizes and releases available N over the tree roots, it may be possible to produce a significant portion of the nitrogen needs of the orchard for a lower cost than other organic nitrogen sources.
Four perennial legume species (alfalfa (Medicago sativa), ladino white clover (Trifolium repens), birdsfoot trefoil (Lotus corniculatus), kura clover (Trifolium ambiguum)) were compared with the resident grass cover crop in a mature apple (Malus ×domestica) orchard.
All legumes were direct-seeded into the alley to avoid any soil disturbance.
Legume species performed differently over time.
Ladino white clover established most quickly.
Alfalfa established well in Year 1 and increased biomass in the subsequent year.
Trefoil and kura clover were slowest to establish, and improved their stands over time.
Alfalfa contributed approximately 54 kg total N ha-1 orchard with four mowings during the second season (2009), with a dry matter C:N of 10. Screening these legumes for characteristics specific to orchards (e.g., shade tolerance, tolerance of tractor traffic) is needed to optimize their use.
Publication
Authors
D. Granatstein, E. Kirby, J. Davenport
Keywords
apple, alfalfa, clover, trefoil
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