Inoculation and fertilization affect sulla performance in a new cultivation area

The forage legume sulla (Sulla coronaria (L.) Medik) establishes a host-speciic nitrogen-ixing symbiotic
interaction and its inoculation is mandatory where it is cultivated for the irst time or not present as
spontaneous species. his study aimed at investigating the efects of inoculation and fertilizer nitrogen (N)
on yield performance and N-ixation ability of sulla established in a new habitat within a Mediterranean
agropastoral area of Sardinia (Italy). Sulla plants, previously inoculated with peat-based inoculant, liquid
inoculant and soil, and unfertilized (N0) or N100 fertilized, were sampled at full vegetative stage. Length,
dry matter yield and ixed N of sulla shoots and roots were measured. Inoculation signiicantly afected
several traits. In particular, plant DM varied from 0.5 to 3.2 g in uninoculated and inoculated plants,
respectively. At N0 and using soil as inoculant, shoot ixed N reached 43 mg plant-1 whereas it was
negligible in the uninoculated control. Under N100, N-ixation ability of sulla was decreased. Results
highlighted that inoculation is essential for extending the cultivation of sulla in a new habitat.