Animal Supplementation and Legume Pastures Enhance Nitrogen Balance and Efficiency in Integrated Crop-Livestock Systems

Abstract

Improving sustainability in agricultural systems depends on increasing the efficiency of nitrogen (N) use and recycling. This study evaluated whether animal supplementation and legume-based pastures can enhance N balance and residual N availability in an integrated crop-livestock system (ICLS). The experiment was conducted in two phases—livestock and cropping—using three treatments: a control pasture (oat + ryegrass), a legume mixture (oat + ryegrass + arrowleaf clover), and a supplementation treatment (oat + ryegrass with concentrate supplementation at 1% of live weight), each replicated three times. Soybeans were grown during the cropping phase. Supplementation increased the stocking rate by 21%, while both supplementation and legumes led to a 30% increase in residual N returned via feces and urine, without negatively affecting soybean yield (~4.1 Mg ha−1). N off-take by soybean grain was approximately 9% higher in these treatments, while N exported via cattle carcasses remained unchanged across treatments, averaging 8.2 kg ha−1. Overall, soybeans accounted for 96–97% of total N export, and animals for only 3–4%. These results demonstrate that animal supplementation and legume integration enhance N use efficiency and contribute to nutrient recycling in ICLS, offering a viable strategy to reduce dependence on synthetic fertilizers. The findings support the development of more sustainable livestock and crop systems by maximizing nutrient retention, maintaining yield, and improving soil fertility. Furthermore, the implications for soybean yield and the sustainability of livestock systems indicate a potential positive economic and environmental impact for producers and policymakers.