Growing vetches (Vicia villosa Roth) in irrigated cotton systems: inputs of fixed N, N fertiliser savings and cotton productivity

We compared symbiotic N2 fixation by winter forage legumes (clovers, medics and vetches) using the 15N natural abundance technique in three experiments. Vetches (Vicia spp.) were the most productive legumes, and woollypod vetch fixed (shoot + root) up to 265 kg N ha-1 (mean 227 kg N ha-1) during a 4-5 months period over winter and early spring. Balansa and Berseem clovers, and Gama medic were highly productive in the first experiment, but fixed significantly less N than woollypod vetch in the second experiment. A 6-year study (1997-2003) compared cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) systems with and without vetch, or with faba beans (Vicia faba L.) to assess the effects of these crops on cotton production. Woollypod vetch was grown either between annual cotton crops, or between wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and cotton crops. Vetch added 230 kg N ha-1 (174 kg fixed N ha-1) to the soil when incorporated as a green manure. Faba bean shoot residues and nodulated roots contributed 108 kg fixed N ha-1 to the soil, following the removal of 80 kg N ha-1 in the harvested seed (meaned over three crops). Lablab (Lablab purpureus L. - summer-growing and irrigated) added 277 kg N ha-1 (244 kg fixed N ha-1) before incorporation as a green manure in the first year of the experiment. The economic optimum N fertiliser rate for each cropping system was determined every second year when all systems were sown to cotton. Cotton following cotton required 105 kg fertiliser N ha-1, but only 40 kg N ha-1 when vetch was grown between each cotton crop. Cotton following wheat required 83 kg fertiliser N ha-1 but no N fertiliser was needed when vetch was grown after wheat (the highest yielding system). Cotton following faba beans also required no N fertiliser. The vetch-based systems became more N fertile over the course of the experiment and produced greater lint yields than the comparative non-legume systems, and required less N fertiliser. While no cash flow was derived from growing vetch, economic benefits accrued from enhanced cotton yields, reduced N fertiliser requirements and improved soil fertility. These findings help explain the rotational benefits of vetches observed in other regions of the world.