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Crop Science 40:731-736 (2000)
© 2000 Crop Science Society of America

CROP ECOLOGY, MANAGEMENT & QUALITY

Hard Red Spring Wheat Response Following the Intercropping of Legumes into Sunflower

H.J. Kandel, B.L. Johnson and A.A. Schneiter

Dep. of Plant Sciences, North Dakota State Univ., Fargo, ND 58105 USA

kandel001{at}tc.umn.edu


   ABSTRACT
TOP
 NOTES
 ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION
 Methods and materials
 Results and discussion
 Conclusion
 REFERENCES
 
Intercropping legumes in sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) may increase soil cover, reduce soil erosion, and increase soil C and N. Subsequent effects of this practice on hard red spring wheat (HRSW) [Triticum aestivum (L.) Emend. Thell.] yield and protein content were unknown. Our objective was to quantify effects of intercropping various legumes into sunflower on spring soil nitrate-nitrogen (NO-3–N) and grain yield and protein content of a subsequent HRSW crop. Field experiments were conducted near Carrington and Prosper, ND, from 1993 through 1995. Wheat was planted into non-legume plots and those previously intercropped with hairy vetch (Vicia villosa Roth), yellow-flowered sweetclover (Melilotus officinalis Lam.), alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.), snail medic [Medicago scutellata (L.) Mill.], or black lentil (Lens culinaris Medik.). Soil NO-3–N (0–30 cm) in plots previously intercropped with hairy vetch (41 kg ha-1) was greater than control plots (26 kg ha-1). Yield of HRSW was reduced at both Carrington and Prosper in 1993 when grown after a sweetclover intercrop. Yield of HRSW was reduced at Carrington in 1993 when grown after an alfalfa intercrop. Wheat grown after sweetclover intercropped in sunflower had higher protein content (142.0 g kg-1) than HRSW grown after sunflower (140.6 g kg-1) alone. Overall, intercropping hairy vetch at the V4 sunflower growth stage appears superior because it did not reduce sunflower yield, provided soil cover adding between 540 and 2400 kg ha-1 above ground dry matter to the system, and increased NO-3–N levels at the beginning of the HRSW season in two environments.

Abbreviations: HRSW, hard red spring wheat


   INTRODUCTION
TOP
 NOTES
 ABSTRACT
 INTRODUCTION
Methods and materials
 Results and discussion
 Conclusion
 REFERENCES
 
SUNFLOWER, when seeded in rows, can result in severe soil erosion during and after the growing season (Deibert, 1987). In a previous study, we evaluated effects of intercropping legumes into sunflower as a technique to increase surface residue cover (Kandel et al., 1997). We reported reduced sunflower yield when hairy vetch, sweetclover, alfalfa, and snail medic were seeded at the same time as sunflower. However, seeding these legumes at the V4 or V10 (Schneiter and Miller, 1981) sunflower growth stages did not reduce sunflower yield. Hairy vetch provided 1593 and 831 kg ha-1 dry matter when seeded at the V4 or V10 sunflower growth stages, respectively (Kandel et al., 1997).

Some potential benefits to the farming system of intercropping a legume in sunflower are dinitrogen fixation, soil erosion control, and improvement of the soil structure and organic matter content (Biederbeck and Bouman, 1994). Intercropping may also improve snow trapping and green manure production during the year after legume establishment (Lilleboe, 1991).

Shading by sunflower may decrease growth and dinitrogen fixing ability of the intercropped legumes (Morris and Garrity, 1993). Application of N to legume-based intercrops will usually favor the growth of the non-legume and further reduce dinitrogen fixation of the legume (Midmore, 1993; Davis and Woolley, 1993). Most legume-fixed dinitrogen will usually benefit only subsequent crops as opposed to the intercrop (Stern, 1993). For example, Jordan et al. (1993) reported that 8 wk after alfalfa was incorporated into the soil, corn (Zea mays L.) had recovered 8 to 10% of N fixed by alfalfa, the rest remained in the soil fraction.

Biederbeck et al. (1993) reported that under dry soil conditions legume growth and nodule number were reduced, limiting dinitrogen fixation. Brown et al. (1993) reported that hairy vetch intercropped into corn in August and chemically burned down the following spring, significantly increased soil NO-3–N in the top 15 cm, when measured 50 and 78 d after planting the subsequent crop.

Soil NO-3–N tests measure the amount of plant available NO-3 but do not account for N in the unavailable organic form. Ladd et al. (1981) reported that wheat took up between 11 and 17% of labeled 15N from legume material that had been decomposing for 8 mo. They concluded that increased soil organic N was the main benefit derived from planting a legume.

The objective of this experiment was to determine the effect of selected legumes intercropped into sunflower on spring soil NO-3–N level, subsequent HRSW grain yield and protein content. Because of the beneficial effects of surface residues and the ability to fix N, we hypothesized that previous grown legumes would increase HRSW yield whether or not HRSW would be fertilized with N.

Our main questions for this research were (i) would increased HRSW yield (with or without fertilizer N) offset decreased sunflower yield (legumes seeded at sunflower planting reduced yield), (ii) which legume(s), if any, seeded at which sunflower growth stage would provide soil cover without negative impacts on sunflower and HRSW yields, and (iii) would legumes increase soil NO-3–N levels at the beginning of the HRSW season?

This information is needed because producers are exploring intercropping legumes in sunflower but there is little data available concerning the effects of this practice on subsequent HRSW yield and protein content.


   Methods and materials
TOP
 NOTES
 ABSTRACT
 INTRODUCTION
 Methods and materials
Results and discussion
 Conclusion
 REFERENCES
 
This study was conducted at Carrington (47°30' N, 99°08' W) (1993 and 1994) and Prosper (47°00' N, 97°07' W) (1993, 1994, and 1995), ND, following directly an evaluation of legume intercropping into sunflower (Kandel et al., 1997). Soil at Carrington is a complex of Heimdahl loam (coarse-loamy, mixed Udic Haploborolls) and Emrick loam (coarse-loamy, mixed Pachic Udic Haploborolls). Soils at Prosper are mostly Perella silty-clay loam (fine-silty, mixed frigid Typic Haploquoll) and Bearden silt loam (fine-silty, mixed, frigid Aeric Calciaquolls). Precipitation and temperature records were obtained from field weather stations at Carrington and Prosper (Enz et al., 1993).

Plot History
Design of the previous experiment was a split-split plot arrangement in a randomized complete block, with four replicates. Main plots were two oilseed sunflower hybrids: `Interstate 3311' (Interstate Payco, West Fargo, ND)1 , a standard-height and -maturity hybrid, and the earlier-maturing dwarf hybrid `Sunwheat 101' (Agripro Biosciences Inc., Brookings, SD). Subplots were three legume seeding dates: at sunflower planting (PLT), when sunflower reached growth stage V4, and when sunflower reached growth stage V10. Sub-subplots were interseeded treatments of common hairy vetch (32.2 kg ha-1), common sweetclover (10.7 kg ha-1), `Nitro' alfalfa (17.9 kg ha-1), `Indianhead' black lentil (25 kg ha-1), `Sava' snail medic (25 kg ha-1), and a non interseeded control.

Table 1 provides seeding and harvest dates and other management information about each environment. The sub-subplot size was 6.1 m long and about 3.05 m wide with four rows of sunflower spaced 76 cm apart. Sunflower seeding rates were 60 000 plants ha-1. Legume seeds were hand-broadcast between the sunflower rows and harrowed into the soil.


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  		Table 1 Dates of seeding and harvesting of sunflower, legumes, and wheat. Mean experiment yields of sunflower and wheat. Dates of soil sampling and fertilizer applied at Carrington and Prosper, ND, 1992 to 1995

 
Near the end of the legume growing season, visual covering of the soil by the legume was observed and a legume biomass sample was taken from a 1-m2 area between the sunflower rows of all sub-subplots that had legumes. Legumes were cut just above the soil surface with hand clippers. After drying and weighing, the legume biomass was returned to its harvested area and evenly spread on the soil surface.

HRSW Evaluations
The spring following sunflower legume intercropping, soil samples were taken (0-30 cm and 30-60 cm) (Table 1) in all non-legume sub-subplots from the previous season. A composite sample for each block was analyzed to determine soil NO-3–N.

The whole block was evenly divided in half, creating units of experiment of (3.05 by 3.05 m). The design for this experiment was a randomized complete block, consisting of a split-split plot within a split-block arrangement. Treatments were replicated four times.

Half of each block was fertilized with N, using dry granular commercial fertilizer urea, at rates (Table 1) based on preseeding soil analysis for a HRSW yield goal of 2688 kg ha-1 (Dahnke et al., 1992). Just after broadcasting urea, cover crop legumes were disked into the soil and `Pioneer 2375' HRSW was seeded in 15-cm rows at a rate of 2.5 million seeds ha-1, with a Kirschmann double-disk-opener drill (Table 1). Regrowth of sweetclover and alfalfa was controlled (Table 1) in the spring of 1993 and 1994, by applying 2,4-D [(2,4-dichlorophenoxy)acetic acid], and in 1995 with glyphosate [N-(phosphonomethyl)glycine]. Weeds were chemically controlled in HRSW.

Soil samples (0–30 cm) were taken about one month after seeding HRSW (Table 1) to determine soil NO-3–N content in sub-subplots of hairy vetch, sweetclover, black lentil, and the non-legume control that did not receive an urea application in the spring.

After discarding border rows, a 3-m2 area was harvested (Table 1) with a plot combine. The grain was weighed. Sub-samples were ground, and grain protein was determined, corrected to 140 g kg-1 moisture, with near-infrared reflectance spectrography (Technicon InfraAlyzer 300, Technicon Instruments Corp., Tarrytown, NY).

Data from all studies were analyzed by the Statistical Analysis System (SAS Institute, 1985). For analysis of variance, locations and years were termed environments. The F-protected least significant difference (LSD) was calculated at the 0.05 level of probability, according to Steel and Torrie (1980).


   Results and discussion
TOP
 NOTES
 ABSTRACT
 INTRODUCTION
 Methods and materials
 Results and discussion
Conclusion
 REFERENCES
 
Carrington in 1993 and Prosper in 1993, 1994, and 1995 received 222, 182, 129, and 106% more precipitation than the 30-yr average, respectively, whereas Carrington in 1994 received only 81% of its long-term average (Table 2) . In 1993, the average temperature during the growing season was below the 30-yr average. Plants at all locations except Carrington in 1994 showed low levels (< 15% of heads infected) of head blight (Fusarium graminearum Schwabe).


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  		Table 2 Precipitation and average monthly temperature at Carrington, ND, 1993 to 1994 and Prosper, ND, 1993 to 1995

 
The environment x date (seeding date of the legumes), environment x legumes, and environment x date x legumes interactions are used in answering the main research objectives in this study (Table 3) as seeding date of the legumes and legume main effects (except for protein content) were not significant.


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  		Table 3 Significance level for the combined analysis of variance of five North Dakota environments, for wheat yield and protein content*

 
HRSW Yield
Wheat after hairy vetch yielded higher than the control at Carrington and Prosper in 1994 (environment x legumes interaction; Table 4) . Badaruddin and Meyer (1990) reported increased HRSW yield after hairy vetch. In 1993, HRSW yield after vetch or the control were similar. We attribute this to the lower amount of legume biomass produced during the 1992 sunflower season (Table 1). In 1995, HRSW was seeded later than in 1993 and 1994, resulting in a HRSW yield 80% of the mean yield from 1993–1994 with no HRSW yield differences after a legume or without a legume intercropped in sunflower (Table 4).


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  		Table 4 Mean wheat yield after legumes intercropped in sunflower at five North Dakota environments, averaged across two nitrogen levels and two sunflower hybrids

 
At Carrington 1993, HRSW seeded on plots where sunflower intercropped with sweetclover or alfalfa seeded at PLT or V4, the yield was lower than the control (environment x date x legumes interaction) (Table 4). At Prosper 1993, HRSW seeded on plots where sunflower was intercropped with sweetclover or alfalfa seeded at PLT, the average yield was lower than the control. At Carrington 1994, HRSW seeded into PLT plots with sweetclover or alfalfa yielded more than the control.

Nitro alfalfa, considered an annual, survived each winter, but was less hardy than sweetclover. Both legumes had established extensive root systems when seeded at PLT or V4 in sunflower and grew vigorously the following spring. Disking the legumes before seeding HRSW and chemical applications to control the growth of the legume did not completely prevent legume regrowth and competition with the HRSW. The HRSW yield reduction in 1993 was caused by the aggressive growth of surviving sweetclover and alfalfa plants. We attribute this to the excessive rainfall during the growing season (Table 2). In 1994 conditions at Carrington, with below average rainfall, provided HRSW the competitive advantage.

The N x sunflower hybrid interaction was significant (Table 3). Averaged across legumes and legume seeding dates, N applied after Sunwheat 101 produced similar HRSW yields as after Interstate 3311, 2989, and 2978 kg ha-1, respectively. Without supplemental N, HRSW after Sunwheat 101 and Interstate 3311 yielded 2627 and 2476 kg ha-1, respectively.

Wheat with N applied, following sunflower intercropped with legumes, yielded 2914, 2951, and 3087 kg ha-1 at PLT, V4, and V10 growth stages, respectively (N x date interaction).

HRSW without N applied, following sunflower intercropped with legumes, yielded 2594, 2485, and 2577 kg ha-1 at PLT and growth stages V4, and V10, respectively.

Protein
The HRSW protein content after hairy vetch, sweetclover, alfalfa, snail medic, black lentil, and control was 141.2, 142.0, 141.5, 140.0, 140.6, and 140.6 g kg-1, respectively, and protein after sweetclover was significantly higher than the prote content in HRSW without a previous legume. The hybrid x legumes interaction was significant (P <= 0.01) (Table 3) mainly because of the slightly higher HRSW protein content after the sunflower hybrid Sunwheat 101, which we attribute to more legume biomass produced in the dwarf hybrid compared with the standard-height hybrid Interstate 3311.

Wheat grown after sweetclover intercropped in sunflower had higher protein content than HRSW grown after sunflower alone at Carrington 1993 (PLT and V4), Carrington 1994 (PLT), and Prosper 1994 (PLT and V4) (environment x date x legumes interaction: Table 5) . We believe that the higher protein in 1993 and Prosper 1994 (V4) can partly be explained by the inverse relationship between HRSW yield and protein content (Deckard et al., 1984). The HRSW yield of intercropped sweetclover was lower than the control.


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  		Table 5 Mean wheat protein content after legumes intercropped in sunflower at five North Dakota environments, averaged across two nitrogen levels and two sunflower hybrids

 
In 1994 at the beginning of the HRSW, season sweetclover plots (PLT) had significantly more NO-3–N than the control (see next section) this may explain the higher protein content.

Soil NO-3–N Levels in Growing HRSW after Intercropped Sunflower
The ANOVA for soil NO-3–N levels is provided in Table 6 . Amount of legume dry matter incorporated and soil NO-3–N is presented in Table 7 . Snail medic and alfalfa biomass are not included. Average soil NO-3–N content (41.4 kg ha-1) at the beginning of the HRSW production season in plots where hairy vetch was intercropped in sunflower was higher than in plots where sunflower was grown alone (25.6 kg ha-1) (legumes main effect).


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  		Table 6 Significance level for the combined analysis of variance of five North Dakota environments, for NO-3–N content in the soil at the beginning of the HRSW production season*

 

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  		Table 7 Mean legume biomass worked into the soil before seeding wheat and soil NO-3–N content in the top 30 cm at the beginning of the wheat production season after legumes intercropped in sunflower at five North Dakota environments. Values are averaged across two sunflower hybrids

 
When hairy vetch was seeded at the V4 sunflower growth stage, a higher soil NO-3–N content was recorded in subsequent HRSW plots at Carrington 1994 and at Prosper 1994. When legumes were seeded at the V10 sunflower growth stage, no differences were observed in soil NO-3–N content at Carrington 1993 and 1994 and Prosper 1993. At Prosper in 1995, both hairy vetch and sweetclover, when seeded at the V10 sunflower growth stage, showed higher NO-3–N levels than the control plot.

Fertilizer was applied to sunflower for a yield goal of 2800 kg ha-1. Averaged across all environments, the mean sunflower yield was 1769 kg ha-1. As fertilizer NO-3–N was available to legumes, and legumes grew under shaded conditions for most of the growing season, it was assumed that this limited dinitrogen fixation (Morris and Garrity, 1993; Stern, 1993). Mandal et al. (1991) reported reduced legume nodule number and nodule dry weight for an intercropped legume compared with a pure legume crop.

Soil tests measured only the amount of available NO-3, but did not account for the N in organic form. Brown et al. (1993) reported that hairy vetch intercropped in corn the previous growing season increased soil NO-3–N in the surface 7.5 cm between 50 and 64 d after corn planting.

We expected increased HRSW yields after legumes because of anticipated higher soil NO-3–N levels. However, higher yields were only recorded after hairy vetch and sweetclover at Carrington 1994 and for hairy vetch at Prosper 1994 (Table 4). This seems to correspond with the significantly higher NO-3–N levels in these legume plots compared with the control (Table 7).

Once worked into the soil, legumes may decompose slowly (Wagger, 1989). We speculate that some of the legume biomass disked into the soil may have decomposed after the HRSW had already taken up its maximum NO-3–N, although we did not measure this. Meyer (1987) reported increased barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) grain yield 2 yr after hairy vetch was incorporated as a green manure crop.


   Conclusion
TOP
 NOTES
 ABSTRACT
 INTRODUCTION
 Methods and materials
 Results and discussion
 Conclusion
REFERENCES
 
None of HRSW grown after legumes consistently yielded higher than HRSW grown without legumes. Relative to HRSW grown with no previous legume, protein content was higher in HRSW only when grown after sweetclover.

In previous reported research (Kandel et al., 1997), we concluded that all legumes tested except black lentil decreased sunflower yield if legumes were seeded at the same time as sunflower. Black lentil did not show any negative effects on the following HRSW crop.

When seeded at the V4 growth stage of sunflower sweetclover and alfalfa might reduce HRSW yield and an extra cost is involved in controlling the legume growth in the spring.

Hairy vetch intercropped at V4 did not reduce sunflower yield (Kandel et al., 1997). This legume yielded between 540 and 2400 kg ha-1 biomass (Table 7), visually had about a 90% soil cover going into the winter and contributed in two environments to increased NO-3–N levels at the beginning of the HRSW season. Therefore hairy vetch could be used in intercropping at the V4 growth stage of sunflower.

Legumes seeded at the V10 growth stage of sunflower did not negatively affect sunflower yield but neither did they increase subsequent HRSW yields. Hairy vetch yielded 831 kg ha-1 biomass (average from Table 7) to provide a 75% soil cover going into the winter and therefore could be used in intercropping with sunflower.


   NOTES
TOP
 NOTES
ABSTRACT
 INTRODUCTION
 Methods and materials
 Results and discussion
 Conclusion
 REFERENCES
 
Contribution of the ND Agric. Exp. Stn.

1 Mention of trade names, proprietary products, or vendors does not constitute a guarantee or warranty for the product by North Dakota State University and does not imply its approval to the exclusion of other products or vendors that may be suitable. Back

Received for publication May 27, 1999.


   REFERENCES
TOP
 NOTES
 ABSTRACT
 INTRODUCTION
 Methods and materials
 Results and discussion
 Conclusion
 REFERENCES
 





This Article
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