Nitrogen fixation by potential ley pasture legumes for Central Queensland

Yield decline following continuous cropping cycles in Central Queensland has been attributed to the declining soil nitrogen status. In this study an assessment of the level of nitrogen fixation was made to assist in the selection of potential ley pasture legumes for use in rotational systems to achieve sustainable cropping yields.

Twenty one winter and summer growing legumes were evaluated for nitrogen fixation in glasshouse trials in two seasons. Nitrogen fixation was determined using the hydrogen evolution technique (an instantaneous measure of fixation rate) in an artificial media trial and the 15N natural abundance technique (an integral measure of fixation) in a soil based trial.