Long-term growth of eight legumes introduced at three forest locations in southwest Oregon

Abstract

Using nitrogen-fixing plants in forestry becomes financially more attractive as the costs of fertilizers and their application continue to increase. Eight legume cultivars were screened for suitability in Douglas-fir forests of southwest Oregon. The legumes were sown on concurrently fertilized and unfertilized plots within deer exclosures in three logged and burned clearcuts. Percent cover after the first and during the ninth growing season was clearly greater on 2-by 2-meter plots sown with alfalfa, crownvetch, and birds foot deervetch (trefoil) than with wetland deervetch, perennial lupine, annual lupine, flatpea, or hairy vetch. Fertilization influenced 1st-year cover but not subsequent plant cover or height. N fixation was not measured; however, all surviving species were nodulated.

Citation

Miller, Richard E.; Zalunardo, Ray. 1979. Long-term growth of eight legumes introduced at three forest locations in southwest Oregon. Res. Pap. PNW-RP-255. Portland, OR: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Forest and Range Experiment Station. 12 p.