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

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Abstract

Non-cultivated N2-fixing 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 availability to crops. Nitrogen and C mineralization patterns of indigenous legume species, mainly ofTephrosia andCrotalaria 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 ofTephrosia longipes Meisn (2.4%) andCrotalaria 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 pallida (L.) andEriosema 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 followedN release patterns,with mostCrotalaria species releasing >500 mg CO2-C 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 availability of P to the soil microbial pool.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Soil Science and Agricultural Engineering, University of Zimbabwe, Mount Pleasant, PO Box MP 167, Harare, Zimbabwe

    H. Nezomba, T. P. Tauro, F. Mtambanengwe & P. Mapfumo

  2. Soil Fertility Consortium for Southern Africa (SOFECSA), CIMMYT, Southern Africa, Mount Pleasant, PO Box MP 163, Harare, Zimbabwe

    P. Mapfumo

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  1. H. Nezomba
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  2. T. P. Tauro
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  4. P. Mapfumo
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Correspondence to P. Mapfumo.

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Nezomba, H., Tauro, T.P., Mtambanengwe, F. et al. Indigenous legumes biomass quality and influence on C and N mineralization under indigenous legume fallow systems. Symbiosis 48, 78–91 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03179987

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