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Herbage Responses and Biological N 2 Fixation of Bahiagrass and Rhizoma Peanut Monocultures Compared with their Binary Mixtures
Author(s) -
Santos Erick R. S.,
Dubeux José C. B.,
Sollenberger Lynn E.,
Blount Ann R. S.,
Mackowiak Cheryl,
DiLorenzo Nicolas,
Jaramillo David M.,
Garcia Liza,
Pereira Tatiana P.,
Ruiz-Moreno Martin
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
crop science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.76
H-Index - 147
eISSN - 1435-0653
pISSN - 0011-183X
DOI - 10.2135/cropsci2018.02.0128
Subject(s) - monoculture , paspalum notatum , biology , agronomy , human fertilization , dry matter , zoology
Bahiagrass ( Paspalum notatum Flüggé) and rhizoma peanut (RP, Arachis glabrata Benth.) are widely used in Florida, and growing them in association may decrease the need for N fertilization. This study evaluated herbage responses of mixed RP–bahiagrass swards in comparison with their monocultures. The eight treatments were two bahiagrass entries (‘Argentine’ and DF9, receiving 90 kg N ha −1 harvest −1 ) and two RP entries (Ecoturf and Q6B) in monoculture and the combinations of each bahiagrass with each RP (Argentine–Ecoturf, Argentine–Q6B, DF9–Ecoturf, and DF9–Q6B). There was no difference in total herbage accumulation (HA) in 2015. In 2016, total HA was greatest for Argentine + N (9630 kg dry matter [DM] ha −1 ), followed by the mixture Q6B–DF9 (5910 kg DM ha −1 ). Mixtures produced as much biomass as RP monocultures and DF9 + N. In mixtures, Argentine was the most competitive bahiagrass, whereas Q6B was the most competitive RP. Crude protein concentration of DF9 in the mixture with Q6B was similar to that of N‐fertilized DF9. The total aboveground N was usually greatest in RP monocultures (50–53 kg N ha −1 harvest −1 ). Percentage of N derived from the atmosphere increased by 22% in Q6B from 2015 to 2016. Biological N 2 fixation ranged from 11 (Ecoturf–Argentine) to 44 kg N ha −1 harvest −1 (Ecoturf and Q6B). Entry growth habit affected the proportion of each component in the sward, and this information is crucial when combining warm season grasses and legumes. Rhizoma peanut will add N to bahiagrass systems and improve forage nutritive value but have less HA than heavily fertilized grass.