Nitrogen fixation and biomass productivity of indigenous legumes for fertility restoration of abandoned soils in smallholder farming systems

Nezomba, Hatirarami; Tauro, T. P.; Mtambanengwe, Florence; Mapfumo, Paul

doi:10.1080/02571862.2008.10639912

Cited by 16 publications

(14 citation statements)

References 21 publications

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“…1). Further details on biomass productivity, species composition and N accumulation under indifallows are given in Nezomba et al (2008).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Apart from below-ground N transfer and sparing of soil N in legume-cereal intercrops (Giller et Non-cultivated herbaceous indigenous legumes, mostly of Crotalaria, Indigofera, Rothia and Tephrosia genera, have been shown to exhibit effective growth and root nodulation on some of the most nutrient-depleted soils «10% clay, <5 ppm available P, <0.4% organic C) . When deliberately seeded in mixtures on similar soils, the indigenous legumes accumulated up to 10 t ha-1 of biomass within a single growing season (Nezomba et al, 2008). Such legumes can be harnessed as a low cost organic nutrient resource that can enhance N fertility of smallholder farms in resourceconstrained farming systems.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Indigenous legumes biomass quality and influence on C and N mineralization under indigenous legume fallow systems

et al. 2009

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Non-cultivated Nrfixing indigenous legumes can be harnessed to enhance soil fertility replenishment of smallholder farms. Understanding N release patterns of biomass generated by such legumes is key in managing N availabilityto crops. Nitrogen and C mineralization patterns of indigenous legume species, mainly of Tephrosia and Crotalaria genera, and of soils sampled at termination of 1-and 2-year indigenous legume fallows (indifallows) were investigated in leaching tube incubations under laboratory conditions. With the exception of Tephrosia longipes Meisn (2.4%) and Crotalaria cylindrostachys Welw.ex Baker (1.8%), all indigenous legumes had >2.5% N. Total polyphenols and lignin were <4% and 15%, respectively, for all species. Crotalaria pal/ida (L.) and Eriosema ellipticum Welw.ex Baker mineralized >50% of the added N in the first 30 days of incubation. Similar to mixed plant biomass from natural weed fallow, C. cylindrostachys immobilized N during the 155-day incubation period. Indifallow fallow biomass reached peak N mineralization 55 days after most legumes had leveled off. Carbon release by legume species closely followed N release patterns, with most Crotalaria species releasing >500 mg COrC kg-1 soil. Soils sampled at termination of fallows reached peak N mineralization in the first 21 days of incubation, with indifallows mineralizing significantly (P<0.05) more N than natural fallows. Application of mineral P fertilizer to indifallows and natural fallows increased C and N mineralization relative to control treatments. It was concluded that (i) indigenous legumes generate biomass of high quality within a single growing season, (ii) the slow N release of biomass generated under indifallow systems suggests that such fallows can potentially be manipulated to enhance N availability to crops, and (iii) N and C mineralization of organic materials in sandy soils is likely controlled by availabilityofP to the soil microbial pool.

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“…1). Further details on biomass productivity, species composition and N accumulation under indifallows are given in Nezomba et al (2008).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Indigenous legumes biomass quality and influence on C and N mineralization under indigenous legume fallow systems

et al. 2009

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“…According to Nezomba et al (2008), biomass of these indigenous legume species are of high quality and can contribute significantly to the N demands of a subsequent maize crop in the short-term. The enhancement of maize yields following P application under indifallows could be attributed to the improved N supply.…”

Section: Influence Of P Application On Subsequent Maize Yieldsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Nonleguminous plants exhibiting corresponding growth habits under natural fallow plots were used as reference crops for the different legume species (Nezomba et al 2008). The ND method measures N 2 -fixation by comparing N accumulated in N-fixing plant with that taken up by a non-fixing reference plant of corresponding growth habit.…”

Section: Estimation Of N 2 -Fixationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Population dynamics of mixed indigenous legume fallows and influence on subsequent maize following mineral P application in smallholder farming systems of Zimbabwe

Tauro

Nezomba

Mtambanengwe

et al. 2009

Nutr Cycl Agroecosyst

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Developing soil fertility management options for increasing productivity of staple food crops is a challenge in most parts of Sub-Saharan Africa, where soils are constrained by nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) deficiencies. A study was conducted to evaluate the response of indigenous legume populations to mineral P application, and subsequently their benefits to maize yield. Mineral P was applied at 26 kg P ha -1 before legume species were sown in mixtures at 120 seeds m -2 species -1 and left to grow over two rainy seasons (2 years). Application of P increased overall biomass productivity by 20-60% within 6 months, significantly influencing the composition of non-leguminous species. Dinitrogen fixation, as determined by the N-difference method, was increased by 43-140% although legume biomass productivity was apparently limited by nutrients other than P and N. Crotalaria pallida and C. ochroleuca accounted for most of the fixed N. Improved N supply increases the abundance of non-leguminous species, particularly Conyza sumatrensis and Ageratum conyzoides. However, abundance of common weed species, Commelina benghalensis, Richardia scabra and Solanum aculeastrum, declined by up to18%. Application of P did not significantly influence productivity of those legume species that reached maturity within 3 months. There was increased N 2 -fixation and biomass productivity of indifallows as influenced by specific legume species responding to P application. Compared with natural (grass) fallows, indigenous legume fallows (indifallows) increased subsequent maize grain yields by *40%. Overall, 1-and 2-year indifallows gave maize grain yields of [2 and 3 t ha -1 , respectively, against \1 t ha -1 under corresponding natural fallows. Twoyear indifallows with P notably increased maize yields, but the second year gave low yields regardless of P treatment. Because of their low P requirement, indigenous legume fallows have potential to stimulate maize productivity under some of the most nutrient depleted soils.

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“…There is some evidence that native N‐fixing plants in New Zealand facilitate the availability of soil N and provide a nurse crop to other plants ( Bellingham et al, ), as is the case elsewhere ( Nezomba et al, ; Mondoni et al, ). However, it is known that rates of nodulation and N‐fixation can be impaired where concentrations of soil N are high ( Waterer and Vessey , ; Voisin et al, ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Nutrient‐enriched soils and native N‐fixing plants in New Zealand

Dollery

Dickinson

2018

J. Plant Nutr. Soil Sci.

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Approximately 40% of New Zealand's land mass is fertilized grassland with entirely non‐native plants, but currently there is substantially increased interest in restoration of native plants into contemporary agricultural matrices. Native vegetation is adapted to more acid and less fertile soils and their establishment and growth may be constrained by nutrient spillover from agricultural land. We investigated plant–soil interactions of native N‐fixing and early successional non N‐fixing plants in soils with variable fertility. The effects of soil amendments of urea (100 and 300 kg N ha−1), lime (6000 kg CaCO3 ha−1), and superphosphate (470 kg ha−1) and combinations of these treatments were evaluated in a glasshouse pot trial. Plant growth, soil pH, soil mineral N, Olsen P and nodule nitrogenase activity in N‐fixing plants were measured. Urea amendments to soil were not inhibitory to the growth of native N‐fixing plants at lower N application rates; two species responded positively to combinations of N, P and lime. Phosphate enrichment enhanced nodulation in N‐fixers, but nitrogen inhibited nodulation, reduced soil pH and provided higher nitrate concentrations in soil. The contribution of mineral N to soil from the 1‐year old N‐fixing plants was small, in amounts extrapolated to be 10–14 kg ha−1 y−1. Urea, applied both alone and in conjunction with other amendments, enhanced the growth of the non N‐fixing species, which exploited mineral N more efficiently; without N, application of lime and P had little effect or was detrimental. The results showed native N‐fixing plants can be embedded in agroecology systems without significant risk of further increasing soil fertility or enhancing nitrate leaching.

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Nitrogen fixation and biomass productivity of indigenous legumes for fertility restoration of abandoned soils in smallholder farming systems

Cited by 16 publications

References 21 publications

Indigenous legumes biomass quality and influence on C and N mineralization under indigenous legume fallow systems

Indigenous legumes biomass quality and influence on C and N mineralization under indigenous legume fallow systems

Population dynamics of mixed indigenous legume fallows and influence on subsequent maize following mineral P application in smallholder farming systems of Zimbabwe

Nutrient‐enriched soils and native N‐fixing plants in New Zealand

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