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Symbiotic Dinitrogen Fixation in Forage Legumes Amended with High Rates of De‐Inking Paper Sludge
Author(s) -
Allahdadi Iraj,
Beauchamp Chantal J.,
Chalifour FrançoisP.
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
agronomy journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.752
H-Index - 131
eISSN - 1435-0645
pISSN - 0002-1962
DOI - 10.2134/agronj2004.0956
Subject(s) - lotus corniculatus , agronomy , legume , red clover , nitrogen fixation , dry matter , medicago sativa , forage , organic matter , melilotus , biology , bromus inermis , chemistry , nitrogen , ecology , organic chemistry
The paper de‐inking process produces a waste by‐product, de‐inking paper sludge (DPS), which contains paper fibers, clay particles, and inks and has high C and Ca and low N and P concentrations. Use of high rates of DPS to increase the soil organic matter thus requires provision of high rates of N for adequate plant growth. Using dinitrogen (N 2 )‐fixing forage legumes is an alternative to the N fertilization under such circumstances. In a 2‐yr field study (1995 and 1996), the effect of different rates of DPS (0, 50, or 100 Mg dry matter ha −1 ), applied once in October 1994, were evaluated on symbiotic N 2 fixation of forage legumes established on two soil types in Eastern Quebec, Canada. Symbiotic N 2 fixation was measured in alfalfa ( Medicago sativa L.), birdsfoot trefoil ( Lotus corniculatus L.), red clover ( Trifolium pratense L.), and sweetclover ( Melilotus officinalis L.); bromegrass ( Bromus inermis L.) was used as the reference (non N 2 –fixing) crop. Dinitrogen fixation was estimated by the 15 N natural abundance method. The percentages of N derived from the atmosphere increased significantly with DPS in the year of establishment (1995). In the first production year (1996), the effects of DPS on N 2 fixation were mainly observed at the first cut. Our results show that DPS used as an organic amendment generally led to similar or greater forage legume productivity and greater N 2 fixation compared with unamended controls in the first production year and is compatible with sustainable agricultural practices.