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The effect of elevated atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration on the contribution of residual legume and fertilizer nitrogen to a subsequent wheat crop

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Abstract

Purpose

This study investigated the residual contribution of legume and fertilizer nitrogen (N) to a subsequent crop under the effect of elevated carbon dioxide concentration ([CO2]).

Methods

Field pea (Pisum sativum L.) was labeled in situ with 15N (by absorption of a 15N-labeled urea solution through cut tendrils) under ambient and elevated (700 μmol mol–1) [CO2] in controlled environment glasshouse chambers. Barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) and its soil were also labeled under the same conditions by addition of 15N-enriched urea to the soil. Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) was subsequently grown to physiological maturity on the soil containing either 15N-labeled field pea residues (including 15N-labeled rhizodeposits) or 15N-labeled barley plus fertilizer 15N residues.

Results

Elevated [CO2] increased the total biomass of field pea (21 %) and N-fertilized barley (23 %), but did not significantly affect the biomass of unfertilized barley. Elevated [CO2] increased the C:N ratio of residues of field pea (18 %) and N-fertilized barley (19 %), but had no significant effect on that of unfertilized barley. Elevated [CO2] increased total biomass (11 %) and grain yield (40 %) of subsequent wheat crop regardless of rotation type in the first phase. Irrespective of [CO2], the grain yield and total N uptake by wheat following field pea were 24 % and 11 %, respectively, higher than those of the wheat following N-fertilized barley. The residual N contribution from field pea to wheat was 20 % under ambient [CO2], but dropped to 11 % under elevated [CO2], while that from fertilizer did not differ significantly between ambient [CO2] (4 %) and elevated [CO2] (5 %).

Conclusions

The relative value of legume derived N to subsequent cereals may be reduced under elevated [CO2]. However, compared to N fertilizer application, legume incorporation will be more beneficial to grain yield and N supply to subsequent cereals under future (elevated [CO2]) climates.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by the Australian Research Council, the Victorian Department of Primary Industries and The University of Melbourne. The authors wish to thank Dr. Saman Seneweera for establishment and management of CO2 chambers, Mr. Peter Howie and Mr. Garry Wilde for field assistance, Mr. Jianlei Sun and Dr. Xing Chen for chemical analyses, and Dr. Arvin R. Mosier for valuable comments on the manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Melbourne School of Land and Environment, The University of Melbourne, Victoria, 3010, Australia

    Shu Kee Lam, Deli Chen & Rob Norton

  2. International Plant Nutrition Institute, 54 Florence Street, Horsham, Victoria, 3400, Australia

    Rob Norton

  3. Department of Primary Industries, Private Bag 260, Horsham, Victoria, 3401, Australia

    Roger Armstrong

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  1. Shu Kee Lam
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  2. Deli Chen
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Correspondence to Deli Chen.

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Responsible Editor: Katja Klumpp.

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Lam, S.K., Chen, D., Norton, R. et al. The effect of elevated atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration on the contribution of residual legume and fertilizer nitrogen to a subsequent wheat crop. Plant Soil 364, 81–91 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-012-1314-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-012-1314-4

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