Enhancing Biological Nitrogen Fixation Through Diverse Pasture Swards

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dc.citation.issue17
dc.citation.volume14
dc.contributor.authorSutharsan R
dc.contributor.authorJeyakumar P
dc.contributor.authorBurkitt L
dc.contributor.authorMatse DT
dc.contributor.authorDhanuskodi R
dc.contributor.authorHanly J
dc.contributor.authorDonaghy DJ
dc.contributor.editorCai H
dc.date.accessioned2025-10-02T02:01:53Z
dc.date.available2025-10-02T02:01:53Z
dc.date.issued2025-09
dc.description.abstractRegenerative agricultural practices emphasize the use of diverse pasture species within sustainable agriculture production systems. The inclusion of a range of legume species in diverse pasture swards is likely to increase biological N fixation (BNF) across seasons, reducing the system’s reliance on synthetic N inputs. The present field study aims to quantify BNF in selected legume species within diverse pasture (combining 9 species) and standard pastures (ryegrass and clover combination) and assess their performance to identify the potential for improving N supply while maintaining year-round pasture quality. A year-round seasonal BNF was assessed by evaluating soil N status, nodulation patterns, plant composition, and conducting <sup>15</sup>N natural abundance studies. The results revealed that the diverse pasture sward produced 5.4% more dry matter compared to the standard pasture, while soil mineral N (NO<inf>3</inf><sup>−</sup>, NH<inf>4</inf><sup>+</sup>) remained statistically similar between the two treatments. Nitrogen yield was 9.3% higher in the diverse pasture than in the standard pasture. <sup>15</sup>N natural abundance analysis assessment revealed no substantial variation in BNF rates across treatments throughout the study. However, in contrast to standard pasture, the BNF rate in diverse pasture experienced a 3-fold increase from winter to summer, while the standard pasture exhibited a 1.5-fold increase. In both pasture systems, BNF increased with clover proportion up to 30%, indicating optimal fixation at moderate clover levels. The findings underscore the potential of diverse pastures when strategically managed to enhance seasonal BNF while sustaining pasture productivity.
dc.description.confidentialfalse
dc.edition.editionSeptember-1 2025
dc.identifier.author-urlhttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-9841-8645
dc.identifier.citationSutharsan R, Jeyakumar P, Burkitt L, Matse DT, Dhanuskodi R, Hanly J, Donaghy DJ. (2025). Enhancing Biological Nitrogen Fixation Through Diverse Pasture Swards. Plants. 14. 17.
dc.identifier.doi10.3390/plants14172727
dc.identifier.eissn2223-7747
dc.identifier.elements-typejournal-article
dc.identifier.number2727
dc.identifier.urihttps://mro.massey.ac.nz/handle/10179/73634
dc.publisherMDPI (Basel, Switzerland)
dc.publisher.urihttps://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/14/17/2727
dc.relation.isPartOfPlants
dc.rights(c) 2025 The Author/s
dc.rightsCC BY 4.0
dc.rights.urihttps://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
dc.subjectbiological nitrogen fixation; diverse pasture; 15N natural abundance; nitrogen difference method; regenerative agriculture
dc.subjectbiological nitrogen fixation
dc.subjectdiverse pasture
dc.subject15N natural abundance
dc.subjectnitrogen difference method
dc.subjectregenerative agriculture
dc.titleEnhancing Biological Nitrogen Fixation Through Diverse Pasture Swards
dc.typeJournal article
pubs.elements-id503350
pubs.organisational-groupOther
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