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Nitrogen fixation in a Mexican coffee plantation

Fijación de nitrógeno en una plantacion de café en México

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Abstract

Fertilizer studies in Mexico indicate that coffee production can be stimulated by added nitrogen. One traditional method of coffee cultivation employs leguminous trees for shade, but these species may also play an important role in coffee production by biologically fixing nitrogen.

The presence and importance of nitrogen fixation was evaluated in four systems: coffee only, coffee plus the leguminous shade treeInga jinicuil Schletchter, coffee plus the leguminous treeInga vera H.B. and K., and coffee plus banana and orange trees. In all systems coffee leaves with epiphylls, wood litter, soil, roots, and root nodules were assayed for nitrogen fixing activity with the acetylene reduction technique.

All components of these systems exhibited activity except roots. Total apparent fixation was highest in theInga jinicuil site, and equivalent to >40 kg N ha−1 yr−1 assuming a 3∶1 C2H2∶N2 ratio. The activity was primarily associated withInga jinicuil nodules. Apparent fixation in the other three sites was less than 1 kg N ha−1 yr−1. Nitrogen fixed in theI. jinicuil site was 53% of the average amount of fertilizer nitrogen applied annually, suggesting that fixation by non-crop legumes can be an important nitrogen source for coffee agro-ecosystems.

Resumen

En estudios de fertilización en México se ha encontrado que la production de café puede ser estimulada por la adición de nitrógeno. Uno de los métodos tradicionales de cultivo de café es el de proveer al cultivo de sombra por medio de árboles de la familia Leguminosae los cuales pueden jugar un papel importante en la producción del café a través de la fijación biológica de nitrógeno.

La presencia e importancia de fijación de nitrógeno se evaluó en cuatro sistemas: café solo, café conInga junicuil Schletcher, café conInga vera H.B. & K. y café con bananos y naranjos. En todos los sistemas las hojas de café con epifilos, restos leñoso en el mantillo, suelo, raices y nódulos fueron estudiados por el método de reducción de acetileno para fijación de nitrógeno. Todos estos componentes presentaron actividad fijadora excepto las raices. El total de fijación aparente fué mayor en el sitio conI. jinicuil, equivalente a >40 kg N ha−1 ão−1 asumiendo una relación de 3∶1 para C2H2∶N2. La actividad estaba relacionada con los nódulos deI. jinicuil. La fijación aparente en los otros tres sitios fue menos de 1 kg N ha−1 año−1. La fijación de nitrógeno para el sitio conI. jinicuil equivale al 53% de la cantidad promedio de fertilizante nitrogenado aplicado anualmente, lo cual puede tomarse como indicativo de que la fijación de nitrógeno por leguminosas adicionales al cultivo puede ser una fuente importante de nitrógeno para el café.

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  1. J. P. Roskoski

    Present address: Plant Sciences Department, University of Arizona, 85721, Tucson, Arizona, USA

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  1. Recursos Bióticos, Instituto Nacional de Investigaciones Sobre, Apartado Postal 63, Xalapa, Veracruz, México

    J. P. Roskoski

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Roskoski, J.P. Nitrogen fixation in a Mexican coffee plantation. Plant Soil 67, 283–291 (1982). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02182775

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