The effect of various dynamics of N availability on winter pea–wheat intercrops: Crop growth, N partitioning and symbiotic N2 fixation

Cereal–legume intercrops are a promising way to combine high productivity and several ecological benefits in temperate agro-ecosystems. However, the proportion of each species in the mixture at harvest is highly variable. The aim of this study was to test whether the timing of small application of N fertilizer is an effective way of influencing the dynamic interactions between species during crop growth and affecting the percentage of each species in the biomass of the mixture without greatly disturbing N2 fixation. The influence of timing of nitrogen fertilization in pea–wheat intercrops was studied as regards (i) the dynamics of crop growth, (ii) nitrogen acquisition of each species, (iii) the inhibition and recovery of symbiotic N2 fixation (SNF) after N application and (iv) final performance (yield, % of wheat, grain protein content). This was assessed in winter pea–wheat (Pisum sativum L.–Triticum aestivum L.) intercrops in 2007 and 2008 at two locations in France. Whatever the stage of application, N fertilizer tended to increase wheat growth and to decrease pea growth. N fertilization (applied once at different dates from tillering to the end of stem elongation) delayed the decrease in the contribution of wheat to total biomass and maintained the competitive ability of wheat over pea for longer than in unfertilized intercrops. N acquisition dynamics and N sharing between the two species were modified by N fertilization and its timing. Crop conditions at the time of N application (growth and phenology of each species, and their proportions in the intercrop biomass) greatly influenced intercrop response to N fertilization. Partitioning between species of soil and fertilizer N was correlated with the proportion of wheat in the total intercrop biomass observed at the date of N application. Short-term inhibition of nitrates on SNF was shown during the few days after N application, whatever its date. SNF recovery after N applications was observed only until pea flowering, but was prematurely stopped by N fertilization after this stage. The effect of N fertilization on the amount of fixed N2 at harvest was correlated with pea biomass. N fertilization affects N2 fixation mainly by affecting crop growth rather than %Ndfa in pea–wheat intercrops. In conclusion, N fertilization could be used as a tool to enhance the contribution of wheat in the intercrop biomass but may reduce the amount of fixed N2 in the intercrop by decreasing pea biomass.