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Evidence from field nitrogen balance and 15N natural abundance data for the contribution of biological N2 fixation to Brazilian sugarcane varieties

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Abstract

Aims

In Brazil N fertilization of sugarcane (Saccharum spp.) is low compared to most other countries. 15N-aided studies and the occurrence of many N2-fixing bacteria associated with cane plants suggest significant contributions from biological N2 fixation (BNF). The objective of this study was to evaluate BNF contributions to nine cane varieties under field conditions using N balance and 15N natural abundance techniques.

Methods

The field experiment was planted near Rio de Janeiro in 1989, replanted in 1999 and harvested 13 times until 2004. Soil total N was evaluated at planting and again in 2004. Samples of cane leaves and weeds for the evaluation of 15N natural abundance were taken in 2000, 2003 and 2004.

Results

N accumulation of the commercial cane varieties and a variety of Saccharum spontaneum were persistently high and N balances (60 to 107 kg N ha−1 yr−1) significantly (p < 0.05) positive. The δ15N of leaf samples were lower than any of the weed reference plants and data obtained from a greenhouse study indicated that this was not due to the cane plants tapping into soil of lower 15N abundance at greater depth.

Conclusion

The results indicate that the Brazilian varieties of sugarcane were able to obtain at least 40 kg N ha−1 yr−1 from BNF.

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Acknowledgements

The authors express their gratitude to Altiberto M. Baêta and Roberto G. de Souza for the total N and 15N abundance analyses, respectively. The author RPX gratefully acknowledges National Research Council (CNPq) for a PhD Research Fellowship and RFM, RBB, NS and JML for undergraduate fellowships. The authors SU, BJRA and RMB gratefully acknowledge “productivity” fellowships from CNPq and from the program Cientista de Nosso Estado of the Rio State Research Foundation (FAPERJ). The work was funded by Embrapa, CNPq, FAPERJ and the Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Embrapa Agrobiologia, BR 465, km 07, Seropédica, 23890-000, RJ, Brazil

    Segundo Urquiaga, Alexander S. de Resende, Bruno J. R. Alves & Robert M. Boddey

  2. Usina Itamarati, Rodovia MT-358, S/N, Zona Rural Nova, Olímpia, 78.370-000, MT, Brazil

    Rogério P. Xavier

  3. Departamento do Solos, Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro, BR 465, km 07, Seropédica, 23890-000, RJ, Brazil

    Rafael F. de Morais, Rafael B. Batista & Nivaldo Schultz

  4. Departamento de Solos e Nutrição de Plantas, Escola Superior de Agricultura “Luiz de Queiroz” Avenida Pádua Dias, Piracicaba, 13418-900, SP, Brazil

    José M. Leite

  5. Instituto de Fitotecnia, Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro, BR 465, km 07, Seropédica, 23890-000, RJ, Brazil

    Jerusa Maia e Sá

  6. Faculdade de Agronomia, Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro, BR 465, km 07, Seropédica, 23890-000, RJ, Brazil

    Karolina P. Barbosa

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  1. Segundo Urquiaga
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  2. Rogério P. Xavier
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  4. Rafael B. Batista
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  6. José M. Leite
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  7. Jerusa Maia e Sá
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  9. Alexander S. de Resende
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  10. Bruno J. R. Alves
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  11. Robert M. Boddey
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Robert M. Boddey.

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Responsible Editor: Euan K. James.

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Fig. S1

Root profiles of: A commercial sugarcane variety CB 47-89, B Emilia sonchifolia (lilac tasselflower), and C Commelina erecta (slender day flower), growing in the experimental plots of the long-term sugarcane experiment. (PDF 3219 kb)

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Urquiaga, S., Xavier, R.P., de Morais, R.F. et al. Evidence from field nitrogen balance and 15N natural abundance data for the contribution of biological N2 fixation to Brazilian sugarcane varieties. Plant Soil 356, 5–21 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-011-1016-3

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