@article{fdi:010094918,
  title = {{P}lot level nitrogen stock is enhanced by a young agroforestry system in a mediterranean environment},
  author = {{M}ahmud, {M}. and {B}ertrand, {I}. and {N}gao, {J}. and {M}artin-{B}langy, {S}. and {B}azot, {S}. and {D}elpierre, {N}. and {L}eadley, {P}. and {V}incent, {G}. and {M}arsden, {C}. and {D}ugu{\'e}, {R}{\'e}mi and {M}orfin, {A}. and {F}orest, {M}. and {M}armagne, {A}. and {B}arthes, {L}.},
  editor = {},
  language = {{ENG}},
  abstract = {{A} 2-years assessment of nitrogen ({N}) stocks, tree {N} safety nets (from a 15{N} labeling experiment), and biological {N} fixation was conducted in a {M}editerranean agroforestry system in southern {F}rance. {T}he study aimed to quantify {N} retention in agroforestry. {T}he study area is characterized by a skeletic rhodic luvisol soil, a mean annual temperature of 15.5 degrees {C}, and an average annual precipitation of 556 mm. {N} and 15{N} were quantified across all system components, which are {N}-fixing black locust trees, crops, weed plants, understory vegetation strips ({UVS}), rhizospheric soil, and soil microbial biomass. {A} split-plot experimental design was used, with agroforestry ({AF}) and monoculture ({MC}) plots. 15{N} labeling was applied to track {N} fluxes and determine tree nutrient absorption over time. {W}e hypothesized that tree root growth and nutrient leaching would enhance the safety-net effect, improving {N} retention. {R}esults showed that crops in {AF} had lower {N} stocks (13-30% less than {MC}), but tree and {UVS} contributions compensated for the deficit, leading to a 62% increase in total plot-level {N} stock in 2022. {T}he {R}elative {N}itrogen {C}ontent was 0.97 in 2021 and 1.63 in 2022. {W}hile no 15{N} was detected in trees in the first year (70 days after labeling), 2% of applied 15{N} was recovered in trees 14 months post-labeling. % of {N} derived from atmospheric {N}2 (%{N}dfa) ranged from 52 to 68%, with trees fixing 14-18 kg {N} ha-1. {W}e confirmed that agroforestry enhances {N} retention, but further research is needed to quantify leaching and gaseous losses of nitrogen.},
  keywords = {{B}lack locust ; {S}afety net ; {N}-15 ; %{N}dfa ; {B}iological fixation ; {M}icrobial biomass ; {FRANCE} ; {ZONE} {MEDITERRANEENNE}},
  booktitle = {},
  journal = {{A}groforestry {S}ystems},
  volume = {99},
  numero = {7},
  pages = {182 [16 p.]},
  ISSN = {0167-4366},
  year = {2025},
  DOI = {10.1007/s10457-025-01264-y},
  URL = {https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010094918},
}