The effects of three pulse crops on a second subsequent crop

Abstract

Pulse crops can provide benefits to cropping systems, but few studies follow the effects beyond one subsequent crop. This study investigated the effects of three pulses on 2 yr of subsequent crops at Barrhead and St. Albert in central Alberta. In year 1 (YR1), field pea (Pisum sativum L.), faba bean (Vicia faba L.), lupin (Lupinus angustifolius L.), barley (Hordeum vulgare L.), and canola (Brassica napus L.) were grown without added N. The design included plus N controls, eight different crops in YR2, and barley in YR3. YR1 effects on YR3 barley varied between sites and years, and drought conditions in 2009 affected results. Effects of YR1 faba bean were greater than pea or lupin. Increases in YR3 barley grain yields averaged 11% (0.33 Mg ha-1) and increases in seed N yields averaged 11% (7.2 kg N ha-1) after YR1 faba bean, compared with after YR1 canola or barley without added N (BCO). Increases in YR3 barley grain yields and seed N yields averaged 3 to 5% after YR1 pea or lupin, compared with BCO.YR1 crops had few effects on YR3 barley P uptake. Results indicated that pulse crops can improve the yield and quality of a second subsequent crop.