The Importance of Biological Nitrogen Fixation in Cropping Systems in Nonindustrialized Nations

2015 ◽  
pp. 329-348 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. L. Mafongoya ◽  
S. Mpepereki ◽  
S. Mudyazhezha
Keyword(s):  
Nitrogen Fixation ◽  
Biological Nitrogen Fixation ◽  
Cropping Systems ◽  
Biological Nitrogen

scholarly journals Mineral Fertilizer Demand for Optimum Biological Nitrogen Fixation and Yield Potentials of Legumes in Northern Ethiopia

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (16) ◽  
pp. 6449 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shimbahri Mesfin ◽  
Girmay Gebresamuel ◽  
Mitiku Haile ◽  
Amanuel Zenebe ◽  
Girma Desta
Keyword(s):  
Nitrogen Fixation ◽  
Faba Bean ◽  
Biological Nitrogen Fixation ◽  
Cropping Systems ◽  
Mineral Fertilizer ◽  
Field Pea ◽  
Northern Ethiopia ◽  
Soil N ◽  
Combined Application ◽  
Biological Nitrogen

Farmers in Northern Ethiopia integrate legumes in their cropping systems to improve soil fertility. However, biological nitrogen fixation (BNF) potentials of different legumes and their mineral nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) demands for optimum BNF and yields are less studied. This study aimed to generate the necessary knowledge to enable development of informed nutrient management recommendations, guide governmental public policy and assist farmer decision making. The experiment was conducted at farmers’ fields with four N levels, three P levels, and three replications. Nodule number and dry biomass per plant were assessed. Nitrogen difference method was used to estimate the amount of fixed N by assuming legume BNF was responsible for differences in plant N and soil mineral N measured between legume treatments and wheat. The result revealed that the highest grain yields of faba bean (2531 kg ha−1), field pea (2493 kg ha−1) and dekeko (1694 kg ha−1) were recorded with the combined application of 20 kg N ha−1 and 20 kg P ha−1. Faba bean, field pea and dekeko also fixed 97, 38 and 49 kg N ha−1, respectively, with the combined application of 20 kg N ha−1 and 20 kg P ha−1; however, lentil fixed 20 kg ha−1 with the combined application of 10 kg N ha−1 and 10 kg P ha−1. The average BNF of legumes in the average of all N and P interaction rates were 67, 23, 32 and 16 kg N ha−1 for faba bean, field pea, dekeko and lentil, respectively. Moreover, faba bean, field pea, dekeko and lentil accumulated a surplus soil N of 37, 21, 26 and 13 kg ha−1, respectively, over the wheat plot. The application of 20 kg N ha−1 and 20 kg P ha−1 levels alone and combined significantly (p < 0.05) increased the nodulation, BNF and yield of legumes; however, 46 kg N ha-1 significantly decreased BNF. This indicated that the combination of 20 kg N ha−1 and 20 kg P ha−1 levels is what mineral fertilizer demands to optimize the BNF and yield of legumes. The results of this study can lead to the development of policy and farmer guidelines, as intensification of the use of legumes supplied with starter N and P fertilizers in Northern Ethiopian cropping systems has the multiple benefits of enhancing inputs of fixed N, improving the soil N status for following crops, and becoming a sustainable option for sustainable soil fertility management practice.

Biological nitrogen fixation in mixed legume-cereal cropping systems

1992 ◽  
Vol 141 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 155-175 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. Fujita ◽  
K. G. Ofosu-Budu ◽  
S. Ogata
Keyword(s):  
Nitrogen Fixation ◽  
Biological Nitrogen Fixation ◽  
Cropping Systems ◽  
Biological Nitrogen

scholarly journals Contribution, Utilization, and Improvement of Legumes-Driven Biological Nitrogen Fixation in Agricultural Systems

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 ◽  
Author(s):  
Erana Kebede
Keyword(s):  
Nitrogen Fixation ◽  
Biological Nitrogen Fixation ◽  
Food Production ◽  
Cropping Systems ◽  
Cropping System ◽  
Symbiotic Association ◽  
Agricultural Practice ◽  
Agricultural Systems ◽  
Agronomic Practices ◽  
Biological Nitrogen

Legumes improve soil fertility through the symbiotic association with microorganisms, such as rhizobia, which fix the atmospheric nitrogen and make nitrogen available to the host and other crops by a process known as biological nitrogen fixation (BNF). Legumes included in the cropping system improve the fertility of the soil and the yield of crops. The advantages of legumes in the cropping system are explained in terms of direct nitrogen transfer, residual fixed nitrogen, nutrient availability and uptake, effect on soil properties, breaking of pests' cycles, and enhancement of other soil microbial activity. The best benefits from the legumes and BNF system can be utilized by integrating them into cropping systems. The most common practices to integrate legumes and their associated BNF into agricultural systems are crop rotation, simultaneous intercropping, improved fallows, green manuring, and alley cropping. However, the level of utilizing nitrogen fixation requires improvement of the systems, such as selecting appropriate legume genotypes, inoculation with effective rhizobia, and the use of appropriate agronomic practices and cropping systems. Therefore, using legumes at their maximum genetic potential, inoculation of legumes with compatible rhizobia, and using appropriate agronomic practices and cropping systems are very important for increasing food production. Importantly, the utilization of legumes as an integral component of agricultural practice in promoting agricultural productivity has gained more traction in meeting the demand of food production of the world populace. Priority should, thus, be given to value the process of BNF through more sustainable technologies and expansion of knowledge to the system.

scholarly journals Biological Nitrogen Fixation by Local and Improved Genotypes of Cowpea in Burkina Faso (West Africa): Total Nitrogen Accumulated can be used for Quick Estimation

2018 ◽  
Vol 2018 ◽  
pp. 1-8
Author(s):  
Boubié Vincent Bado ◽  
Michel Sedogo ◽  
François Lompo ◽  
Sanoussi Manzo Maman Laminou
Keyword(s):  
Nitrogen Fixation ◽  
Burkina Faso ◽  
Total Nitrogen ◽  
Biological Nitrogen Fixation ◽  
Polynomial Regression ◽  
Cropping Systems ◽  
Isotopic Dilution ◽  
Potential Contribution ◽  
Total N ◽  
Biological Nitrogen

Biological nitrogen fixation (BNF) by legumes is an indicator of their potential contribution to recycling nitrogen in cropping systems. Many techniques exist for the quantitative measurement of legume BNF. The isotopic dilution (ID) methods are the most accurate but are too expensive, time-consuming and require technical expertise. There is a gap between the simple but less accurate Total Nitrogen Difference (TND) method and the Isotopic Dilution (ID) methods. By measuring the BNF of 11 cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) genotypes, this study aimed to develop a simple model as an improved tool for the quick estimation of BNF. Total N accumulated by traditional genotypes from Burkina Faso varied from 23 to 41 kg ha−1. Approximately 40 to 65% of this was nitrogen derived from the atmosphere (Ndfa) when the TND method was used (Ndfa-TND), while the ID method indicated that 29 to 37% of N accumulated was derived from the atmosphere (Ndfa-ID). The TND method overestimated the BNF of high N-yielding genotypes but underestimated the BNF of low N-yielding genotypes (N-accumulated below 31 kg N ha−1). The relationship between N-accumulated and Ndfa-ID was described by a polynomial regression: Yi = 0.0127 Xi2 - 0.5354 Xi + 17.44, where Yi and Xi represent Ndfa-ID and N-accumulated, respectively (P<0.05, R2 =0.92). The model was validated and could be used for quick estimation of BNF directly from the N accumulated.

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