In this study, six annual legumes and the perennial, red clover (Trifolium pratense L.) were monocropped (MC) and intercropped (IC) with barley in a field study with three N levels, 0, 30 and 60 kg N ha$ sp{-1}$. At O kg N ha$ sp{-1}$, N$ sb2$-fixation and N transfer were estimated by the $ sp{15}$N isotope dilution (ID) method. At 60 kg N ha$ sp{-1}$, a direct $ sp{15}$N labelling method was employed to study N transfer. The hypotheses were that the annual species would be more productive within one growing season than red clover, that increased N levels would increase herbage dry matter (DM) and crude protein (CP), that the proportion of N derived from N$ sb2$-fixation in IC-legumes would be higher than that of MC-legumes and that within intercrops there would be evidence of N transfer. In neither year was the total DM yield of red clover, MC or IC, less than the rest of the legumes. In 1991, the total DM yield of intercrops responded to 30 kg N ha$ sp{-1}$; in neither year did the estimated total CP yield of MC-legumes or intercrops respond to N levels. Only in 1992 was there evidence of N$ sb2$-fixation and the proportion of N derived from fixation by IC-legumes was 145% higher than that of MC-legumes. Only the $ sp{15}$N direct labelling method gave evidence of N transfer, to associated legume and barley plants in 1991, and to associated legume plants in 1992.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:LACETR/oai:collectionscanada.gc.ca:QMM.68257 |
| Date | January 1993 |
| Creators | Sampson, Helen G. (Helen Grace) |
| Contributors | Smith, D. L. (advisor) |
| Publisher | McGill University |
| Source Sets | Library and Archives Canada ETDs Repository / Centre d'archives des thèses électroniques de Bibliothèque et Archives Canada |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Electronic Thesis or Dissertation |
| Format | application/pdf |
| Coverage | Master of Science (Department of Plant Science.) |
| Rights | All items in eScholarship@McGill are protected by copyright with all rights reserved unless otherwise indicated. |
| Relation | alephsysno: 001385071, proquestno: AAIMM94515, Theses scanned by UMI/ProQuest. |
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