The overseeding of two cool-season legumes (Hedysarum coronarium L. and Trifolium incarnatum L.) on switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) mature stands increased biomass productivity
In the Mediterranean rainfed systems, perennial warm-season grasses are profitable crops for the production of herbage as forage or feedstock for bioenergy purposes. During summer, when the production of cool-season crops is scarce, warm-season grasses can improve the productivity and stability of f...
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Elsevier
2020-03-01
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| Series: | Italian Journal of Agronomy |
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| Online Access: | https://agronomy.it/index.php/agro/article/view/1510 |
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| author | Alberto Mantino Vittoria Giannini Cristiano Tozzini Enrico Bonari Giorgio Ragaglini |
| author_facet | Alberto Mantino Vittoria Giannini Cristiano Tozzini Enrico Bonari Giorgio Ragaglini |
| author_sort | Alberto Mantino |
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| description | In the Mediterranean rainfed systems, perennial warm-season grasses are profitable crops for the production of herbage as forage or feedstock for bioenergy purposes. During summer, when the production of cool-season crops is scarce, warm-season grasses can improve the productivity and stability of forage cropping systems. In Italy, switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) can be cultivated for herbage production or as energy crop. The objective of this work was evaluating if relay intercropping with cool-season legumes could be suited to convert a mature stand of switchgrass from energy to dual, energy and forage, production, together with improving the productivity and the quality of the harvestable biomass. All these things considered, a field experiment was carried out in Central Italy, on mature stands of two switchgrass varieties, Alamo and Blackwell, overseeded with two legumes: sulla (Hedysarum coronarium L.) and crimson clover (Trifolium incarnatum L.). The intercropping system was compared with fertilized and un-fertilized pure switchgrass stands. After two years of study, data showed that the intercropping increased the total above ground biomass (AGB) productivity. In the second year, the increase in total AGB production for switchgrass mixtures compared with the pure stands was greater for sulla, a biennial legume, than crimson clover. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-2c8411a070cb41ed95db2f0e63b898f1 |
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| issn | 1125-4718 2039-6805 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2020-03-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
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| series | Italian Journal of Agronomy |
| spelling | doaj-art-2c8411a070cb41ed95db2f0e63b898f12025-08-20T01:55:02ZengElsevierItalian Journal of Agronomy1125-47182039-68052020-03-0115110.4081/ija.2020.1510The overseeding of two cool-season legumes (Hedysarum coronarium L. and Trifolium incarnatum L.) on switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) mature stands increased biomass productivityAlberto Mantino0Vittoria Giannini1Cristiano Tozzini2Enrico Bonari3Giorgio Ragaglini4Institute of Life Sciences, Sant’Anna School of Advanced Studies, PisaDepartment of Agricultural Sciences, University of Sassari, SassariInstitute of Life Sciences, Sant’Anna School of Advanced Studies, PisaInstitute of Life Sciences, Sant’Anna School of Advanced Studies, PisaInstitute of Life Sciences, Sant’Anna School of Advanced Studies, PisaIn the Mediterranean rainfed systems, perennial warm-season grasses are profitable crops for the production of herbage as forage or feedstock for bioenergy purposes. During summer, when the production of cool-season crops is scarce, warm-season grasses can improve the productivity and stability of forage cropping systems. In Italy, switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) can be cultivated for herbage production or as energy crop. The objective of this work was evaluating if relay intercropping with cool-season legumes could be suited to convert a mature stand of switchgrass from energy to dual, energy and forage, production, together with improving the productivity and the quality of the harvestable biomass. All these things considered, a field experiment was carried out in Central Italy, on mature stands of two switchgrass varieties, Alamo and Blackwell, overseeded with two legumes: sulla (Hedysarum coronarium L.) and crimson clover (Trifolium incarnatum L.). The intercropping system was compared with fertilized and un-fertilized pure switchgrass stands. After two years of study, data showed that the intercropping increased the total above ground biomass (AGB) productivity. In the second year, the increase in total AGB production for switchgrass mixtures compared with the pure stands was greater for sulla, a biennial legume, than crimson clover.https://agronomy.it/index.php/agro/article/view/1510Sustainable intensificationMediterranean environmentBlackwellAlamorelay intercropping. |
| spellingShingle | Alberto Mantino Vittoria Giannini Cristiano Tozzini Enrico Bonari Giorgio Ragaglini The overseeding of two cool-season legumes (Hedysarum coronarium L. and Trifolium incarnatum L.) on switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) mature stands increased biomass productivity Italian Journal of Agronomy Sustainable intensification Mediterranean environment Blackwell Alamo relay intercropping. |
| title | The overseeding of two cool-season legumes (Hedysarum coronarium L. and Trifolium incarnatum L.) on switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) mature stands increased biomass productivity |
| title_full | The overseeding of two cool-season legumes (Hedysarum coronarium L. and Trifolium incarnatum L.) on switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) mature stands increased biomass productivity |
| title_fullStr | The overseeding of two cool-season legumes (Hedysarum coronarium L. and Trifolium incarnatum L.) on switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) mature stands increased biomass productivity |
| title_full_unstemmed | The overseeding of two cool-season legumes (Hedysarum coronarium L. and Trifolium incarnatum L.) on switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) mature stands increased biomass productivity |
| title_short | The overseeding of two cool-season legumes (Hedysarum coronarium L. and Trifolium incarnatum L.) on switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) mature stands increased biomass productivity |
| title_sort | overseeding of two cool season legumes hedysarum coronarium l and trifolium incarnatum l on switchgrass panicum virgatum l mature stands increased biomass productivity |
| topic | Sustainable intensification Mediterranean environment Blackwell Alamo relay intercropping. |
| url | https://agronomy.it/index.php/agro/article/view/1510 |
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