Direct and Residual Contributions of Symbiotic Nitrogen Fixation by Legumes to the Yield and Nitrogen Uptake of Maize (Zea mays L.) in the Nigerian Savannah

Abstract

Field experiments were conducted to determine the direct and residual contributions of legumes to the yield and nitrogen (N) uptake of maize during the wet seasons of 1994 and 1995 at the University Farm, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi, Nigeria, located in the Northern Guinea savannah of Nigeria. Nodulating soybean, lablab, green gram and black gram contributed to the yield and N uptake of maize either intercropped with the legumes or grown after legumes as a sole crop. Direct transfer of N from the nodulating soybean, lablab, green gram and black gram to the intercropped maize was 24.9–28.1, 23.8–29.2, 19.7–22.1 and 18.4–18.6 kg N ha–1, respectively. However, the transfer of residual N from these legumes to the succeeding maize crop was 18.4–20.0, 19.5–29.9, 12.0–13.7 and 9.3–10.3 kg N ha–1, respectively. Four years of continuous lablab cropping resulted in yields and N uptake of the succeeding maize crop grown without fertilizer N that were comparable to the yields and N uptake of the succeeding maize crop supplied with 40–45 kg N ha–1 and grown after 4 years of continuous sorghum cropping. It may therefore be concluded that nodulating soybean, lablab, green gram and black gram may be either intercropped or grown in rotation with cereals in order to economize the use of fertilizer N for maize production in the Nigerian savannah.

Forage sorghum-legumes intercropping: effect on growth, yields, nutritional quality and economic returns

“…Cereal-legumes intercropping systems improve nutrient utilization (Ghosh et al 2006) as different crops have varied root lengths and in this way nutrients are absorbed from different soil horizons (Shivay and Singh 2000;Ghosh et al 2007). Intercropping of cereals with legumes also increases the productivity per unit of land area due to the atmospheric nitrogen biological fixation (BNF) that takes place in the root nodules of legumes (Pal and Sheshu 2001). Cereal-legumes intercropping not only increase the primary nutrients (N and P) concentration in roots and shoots of crop plants but also enhance micronutrients absorption.…”

Study on the isolation and characterization of rhizobia strains as biofertilizer tools for growth improvement of four grain legumes in Ngaoundéré-Cameroon

“…Generally, grain legumes do not need additional nitrogen if the seed is effectively inoculated at planting. Inoculation with the most efficient N-fixing bacteria for the type of legume is necessary to help maximise nodulation and N-fixing ability (Pal and Shehu, 2001). In fact, rhizobia are randomly distributed in growing soils where they compete with other indigenous strains (Denison and Kiers, 2004), which often form less efficient nodules (Simms and Taylor, 2002).…”

Root and Shoot Growth of Maize (Zea mays) as Affected by Incorporation of Crotalaria juncea and Tithonia diversifolia as Green Manures

“…2003). As most tropical developing countries have fertilizer shortages, along with cutback in subsidies (Pal and Sheshu 2001), current extension projects tend to emphasize the use of organic matter to maintain productivity and sustainability.…”

“…While short-term benefits could be gained by the use of inorganic fertilizers, especially nitrogen which can be harmful in these fragile ecosystems in the long term (Nosengo 2003), the inclusion of organic matter has long-term benefits in enhancing soil quality due to its impact on the physical, chemical and biological properties of the soil (Ray andGupta 2001, Rawls et al 2003). As most tropical developing countries have fertilizer shortages, along with cutback in subsidies (Pal and Sheshu 2001), current extension projects tend to emphasize the use of organic matter to maintain productivity and sustainability.…”