Publication Date
1997
Description
Self-regenerating winter annual legumes, like the Subterranean clover and the Medicago species, are recognised as typical Mediterranean resources able to contribute to more sustainable cropping systems such as cover crops, living mulches and green manures. Experimental evidence is presented on the capacity of several cultivars of subclover (Trifolium subterraneum, L.; Trifolium yanninicum, Katzn. & Morley and Trifolium brachycalycinum, Katzn. & Morley) and annual Medicago species to yield astonishing amounts of aboveground biomass (up to 15 t/ha by the cultivars of Medicago scutellata) with high nitrogen content. The total contribution of nitrogen to soil varies (100-300 kg/ha) with the age of the plant, but it is always possible to find cultivars of Medicago or Trifolium which as green manures are able to meet the nitrogen requirements of both early and late summer crops.
Citation
Caporali, F; Campiglia, E; and Mancinelli, R, "Self- Reseeding Forage Legumes as Green Manures in Mediterranean Cropping Systems" (2024). IGC Proceedings (1989-2023). 42.
https://uknowledge.uky.edu/igc/1997/session19/42
Included in
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Self- Reseeding Forage Legumes as Green Manures in Mediterranean Cropping Systems
Self-regenerating winter annual legumes, like the Subterranean clover and the Medicago species, are recognised as typical Mediterranean resources able to contribute to more sustainable cropping systems such as cover crops, living mulches and green manures. Experimental evidence is presented on the capacity of several cultivars of subclover (Trifolium subterraneum, L.; Trifolium yanninicum, Katzn. & Morley and Trifolium brachycalycinum, Katzn. & Morley) and annual Medicago species to yield astonishing amounts of aboveground biomass (up to 15 t/ha by the cultivars of Medicago scutellata) with high nitrogen content. The total contribution of nitrogen to soil varies (100-300 kg/ha) with the age of the plant, but it is always possible to find cultivars of Medicago or Trifolium which as green manures are able to meet the nitrogen requirements of both early and late summer crops.
