LAUSR

We grew a grain legume in rhizotrons, alone and mixed with a cereal. There were differences between some of the genotypes of the grain legume but they all demonstrated slow early growth and low ability to absorb mineral soil nitrogen compared to the cereal. The two species were complementary for nitrogen acquisition in the first 2 months of growth. Mixtures showed a higher total soil mineral nitrogen uptake than pure grain legume. Complementarity allowed higher cereal biomass production than in pure cereal, without compromising grain legume growth.