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This research was funded by the Spanish Ministry of the Environment (D-SPRING: A418/2007/2-08.2; and OPS: 209/PC08/3-08.2); SUSFORAGE Project funded by the Partnership for Research and Innovation in the Mediterranean Area (PRIMA) (PRIMA Call 2020, Section 2/PCI 2021-121982) and FUELAGRIMAGE Project Grant TED2021-130503B-I00 funded by MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033 and by the European Union NextGenerationEU/PRTR.

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Ferrio, Juan PedroAuthor

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May 14, 2025
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Sown Diversity Effects on the C and N Cycle and Interactions with Fertilization

Publicated to:Agronomy-Basel. 15 (2): 287- - 2025-02-01 15(2), DOI: 10.3390/agronomy15020287

Authors: Aljazairi, Salvador; Ribas, Angela; Llurba, Rosa; Ferrio, Juan Pedro; Voltas, Jordi; Nogues, Salvador; Sebastia, Maria Teresa

Affiliations

CREAF, Cerdanyola Del Valles 08193, Barcelona, Spain - Author
CSIC, Estn Expt Aula EEAD, Zaragoza 50059, Spain - Author
Forest Sci & Technol Ctr Catalonia CTFC, Bioecon Hlth & Governance Program, Grp Biodivers Funct Ecol & Global Change ECOFUN, Ctra St Llorenc Km 2, Solsona 25280, Spain - Author
Univ Autonoma Barcelona, BABVE, Edifici C, Barcelona 08193, Spain - Author
Univ Barcelona, Dept Biol Evolut Ecol & Ciencies Ambientals, Seccio Fisiol Vegetal, Barcelona 08028, Spain - Author
Univ Granada, Fac Ciencias, Dept Ecol, Granada 18071, Spain - Author
Univ Int Rioja, Dept Educ Ciencias Expt, UNIR, Logrono 26006, Spain - Author
Univ Lleida, Dept Agr & Forest Sci & Engn, Ave Alcalde Rovira Roure 191, Lleida 25198, Spain - Author
Univ Lleida, Sch Agrifood & Forestry Engn & Vet Med ETSEAFIV, Dept Agr & Forestry Sci & Engn DCEFA, Ave Alcalde Rovira Roure 191, Lleida 25198, Spain - Author
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Abstract

A better understanding of the role of plant composition and N cycle on agroecosystems is necessary, as these will be affected by future developments in agriculture intensification. To explore the effect of plant diversity on yield and carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) balances in forage mixtures, identifying potential co-benefits between functions. We analyzed results from a field experiment where plants of three forage species (a grass, a legume, and a non-legume forb) were cultivated in monocultures and mixtures. Three years after sward establishment, dry matter yield, together with delta 15N, delta 13C, and C and N content in plant and soil material were measured. In addition, we analyzed a second scenario to investigate the effect of fertigation with pig slurry (delta 15N = +8.4 parts per thousand) on the C and N balances of forage species. Results support the hypothesis that C and N allocation is affected by plant diversity. Plant composition affected N source (% N derived from air, % N derived from soil, and % N transferred in mixtures). In addition, sown diversity increased yield and modulated C and N balances. The delta 15N of samples was affected by both plant composition and fertigation. These results are consistent with previous work showing strong plant composition effects on N-balances, and the potential role that legumes play in enhancing nitrogen sources (derived from the atmosphere) into forage mixture systems. This study contributes to the prediction of suitable sown plant community composition and N management for the optimum agriculture with increased productivity and at the same time reduced environmental impact.

Keywords

Biological nitrogen-fixationCarbon and nitrogen balanceClimate-changForage mixturesGrass-legume mixturesGreenhouse-gas mitigationManaged grasslandMycorrhizal fungiNatural n-15 abundancePlant diversityPlant functional-groupSpecies compositionStable isotopWhite clover

Quality index

Bibliometric impact. Analysis of the contribution and dissemination channel

The work has been published in the journal Agronomy-Basel due to its progression and the good impact it has achieved in recent years, according to the agency WoS (JCR), it has become a reference in its field. In the year of publication of the work, 2025, it was in position 68/273, thus managing to position itself as a Q1 (Primer Cuartil), in the category Plant Sciences.

Independientemente del impacto esperado determinado por el canal de difusión, es importante destacar el impacto real observado de la propia aportación.

Según las diferentes agencias de indexación, el número de citas acumuladas por esta publicación hasta la fecha 2025-07-22:

  • WoS: 1
  • Scopus: 1

Impact and social visibility

From the perspective of influence or social adoption, and based on metrics associated with mentions and interactions provided by agencies specializing in calculating the so-called "Alternative or Social Metrics," we can highlight as of 2025-07-22:

  • The use, from an academic perspective evidenced by the Altmetric agency indicator referring to aggregations made by the personal bibliographic manager Mendeley, gives us a total of: 7.
  • The use of this contribution in bookmarks, code forks, additions to favorite lists for recurrent reading, as well as general views, indicates that someone is using the publication as a basis for their current work. This may be a notable indicator of future more formal and academic citations. This claim is supported by the result of the "Capture" indicator, which yields a total of: 7 (PlumX).

With a more dissemination-oriented intent and targeting more general audiences, we can observe other more global scores such as:

  • The Total Score from Altmetric: 0.5.
  • The number of mentions on the social network X (formerly Twitter): 1 (Altmetric).

It is essential to present evidence supporting full alignment with institutional principles and guidelines on Open Science and the Conservation and Dissemination of Intellectual Heritage. A clear example of this is:

  • The work has been submitted to a journal whose editorial policy allows open Open Access publication.