Estimation of biological nitrogen fixation in Canavalia ensiformis by means of the total N difference method

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Gloria M. Martín

Abstract

For the full use of the biological nitrogen fixation
(BNF) benefits in agriculture, it is necessary to calculate the
quantity of N fixed by plant-microorganism systems under
different field conditions. Canavalia ensiformis is a very useful
legume as a green manure. Diverse methodologies exist to
quantify and/or evaluate BNF based mainly on the increment
of dry matter production, differences in the total yield of N,
nodulation, xylem solutes, enzymatic activity (acetylene
reduction) and the use of 15N. The present work was carried
out mainly to quantify the biological nitrogen fixation of
Canavalia ensiformis by means of the total difference of N
method in the soil-plant system. The experiment was developed
in the department of Agricultural Services of INCA, on a
lixiviated Red Ferralitic soil with N availability of 26.8 kg.ha-1.
Canavalia was sowed in May, 2006 at the beginning of the
rainy season using corn as a reference crop; a random block
design was used with four replications. The growth in both
species was good, despite the low initial N content in the soil,
observing statistically significant differences in N
concentration. Besides, nitrogen content is much higher in
canavalia, which is in correspondence with nitrogen
concentrations in each organ. On the other hand, it was
observed that the biological nitrogen fixation of canavalia was
of the order of 62.84 %, equivalent to 81.77 kg N.ha-1.

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How to Cite
Martín, G. M. (2012). Estimation of biological nitrogen fixation in Canavalia ensiformis by means of the total N difference method. Cultivos Tropicales, 28(4), 75–78. Retrieved from https://ediciones.inca.edu.cu/index.php/ediciones/article/view/273
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Original Article

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