Forage plant mixture type interacts with soil moisture to affect soil nutrient availability in the short term

A - Papers appearing in refereed journals

Shepperd, S., Thomson, A., Beaumont, D. A., Misselbrook, T. H., Jones, H., Reynolds, C. and Lukac, M. 2020. Forage plant mixture type interacts with soil moisture to affect soil nutrient availability in the short term. Experimental Results. 1 (e42), pp. 1-11. https://doi.org/10.1017/exp.2020.47

AuthorsShepperd, S., Thomson, A., Beaumont, D. A., Misselbrook, T. H., Jones, H., Reynolds, C. and Lukac, M.
Abstract

Agricultural intensification within forage systems has reduced grassland floral diversity by promoting ryegrass (Lolium spp.), damaging soil functionality which underpins critical ecosystem services. Diverse forage mixtures may enhance environmental benefits of pastures by decreasing nutrient leaching, increasing soil carbon storage, and with legume inclusion, reduce nitrogen fertilizer input. This UK study reports on how species-rich forage mixtures affect soil carbon, phosphorus, and nitrogen at dry, medium and wet soil moisture sites, compared to ryegrass monoculture. Increasing forage mixture diversity (from 1 to 17 species) affected soil carbon at the dry site. No effect of forage mixture on soil phosphorus was found, while forage mixture and site did interact to affect soil nitrate/nitrite availability. Results suggest that forage mixtures could be used to improve soil function, but longer-term studies are needed to conclusively demonstrate environmental and production benefits of high-diversity forages.

KeywordsForage mixtures; Soil carbon; Soil nitrogen
Year of Publication2020
JournalExperimental Results
Journal citation1 (e42), pp. 1-11
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)https://doi.org/10.1017/exp.2020.47
Open accessPublished as ‘gold’ (paid) open access
FunderBiotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council
Natural Environment Research Council
Funder project or codeBB/N004353/1
Publisher's version
Output statusPublished
Publication dates
Online02 Oct 2020
Publication process dates
Accepted29 Aug 2020

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