Abstract
BACKGROUND: Legumes can fix atmospheric nitrogen (N) and facilitate N availability to their companion plants in crop mixtures. However, biological nitrogen fixation (BNF) of legumes in intercrops varies largely with the identity of the legume species. The aim of our study was to understand whether BNF and concentration of plant nutrients by common bean is influenced by the identity of the companion plant species in crop mixtures. In this greenhouse pot study, common beans were cultivated with another legume (chickpea) and a cereal (Sorghum). We compared BNF, crop biomass and nutrient assimilation of all plant species grown in monocultures with plants grown in crop mixtures. RESULTS: We found beans to exhibit low levels of BNF, and to potentially compete with other species for available soil N in crop mixtures. The BNF of chickpeas however, was enhanced when grown in mixtures. Furthermore, biomass, phosphorous and potassium values of chickpea and Sorghum plants were higher in monocultures, compared to in mixtures with beans; suggesting competitive effects of beans on these plants. Concentration of calcium, magnesium and zinc in beans was higher when grown with chickpeas than with Sorghum. CONCLUSIONS: It is generally assumed that legumes benefit their companion plant species. Our study highlights the contrary and shows that the specific benefits of cereal-legume mixtures are dependent on the growth rate of the species concerned. We further highlight that the potential of legume-legume mixtures is currently undervalued and may play a strong role in increasing N use efficiency of intercrop-based systems.
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Claims 8
Claim · model-written summary
Beans exhibited low biological nitrogen fixation.
Verbatim
e0“We found beans to exhibit low levels of BNF”
Claim · model-written summary
Beans potentially competed with companion species for soil nitrogen in mixtures.
Not reportedDirection
Verbatim
e0“potentially compete with other species for available soil N in crop mixtures”
e1“We found beans to exhibit low levels of BNF”
Claim · model-written summary
Chickpea nitrogen fixation was enhanced in mixtures.
- Taxon
- chickpeas
Cicer arietinume0 - Treatment
- grown in mixturese0
- Outcome
- BNFe0
- Direction
- enhancede0
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“The BNF of chickpeas however, was enhanced when grown in mixtures.”
Claim · model-written summary
Chickpea biomass, phosphorus and potassium were higher in monoculture than mixtures with beans.
- Taxon
- chickpeaCicer arietinume0
- Treatment
- monoculturese0
- Outcome
- biomass, phosphorous and potassium valuese0
- Direction
- highere0
- Comparator
- mixtures with beanse0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“biomass, phosphorous and potassium values of chickpea and Sorghum plants were higher in monocultures, compared to in mixtures with beans”
Claim · model-written summary
Sorghum biomass, phosphorus and potassium were higher in monoculture than mixtures with beans.
- Treatment
- monoculturese0
- Outcome
- biomass, phosphorous and potassium valuese0
- Direction
- highere0
- Comparator
- mixtures with beanse0
SorghumOrganisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“biomass, phosphorous and potassium values of chickpea and Sorghum plants were higher in monocultures, compared to in mixtures with beans”
Claim · model-written summary
Bean calcium, magnesium and zinc concentration was higher with chickpeas than Sorghum.
Verbatim
e0“Concentration of calcium, magnesium and zinc in beans was higher when grown with chickpeas than with Sorghum.”
Claim · model-written summary
Benefits of cereal legume mixtures depended on species growth rate.
- Taxon
- common beans
Phaseolus vulgarist0 - Outcome
- specific benefits of cereal-legume mixturese0
- Qualifier
- growth rate of the species concernede0
- Setting
- crop mixturese1
Not reportedDirection
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“specific benefits of cereal-legume mixtures are dependent on the growth rate of the species concerned”
e1“potentially compete with other species for available soil N in crop mixtures”
t0“common beans”
Claim · model-written summary
Legume legume mixtures may improve nitrogen use efficiency in intercrop systems.
- Taxon
- common beansPhaseolus vulgarist0
- Outcome
- increasing N use efficiency of intercrop-based systemse0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“potential of legume-legume mixtures is currently undervalued and may play a strong role in increasing N use efficiency of intercrop-based systems.”
t0“common beans”
The same questions in other papers
rotation · growth · SorghumPositive and negative results
4 papers in the same direction as this paper · 3 in the opposite direction
- no effect
- negative
- negative
4 papers more in this group
See all 8 papers →Claims are grouped by organism, treatment and what was measured or targeted. A paper counts as positive when any of its claims in the group is positive.