Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Nitrogen Absorption and Immobilization Patterns as Cataysed by the Roots of Acacia Plants

  • Conference paper
  • First Online:
Emerging Trends in Chemical Sciences (ICPAC 2016)

Included in the following conference series:

  • 608 Accesses

Abstract

Large tracts of soil in sub-Saharan Africa are nutrients deficient while inorganic fertilizers are unaffordable for most subsistence farmers. Rotations and/or intercropping of nitrogen fixing trees like Acacia species with crops may alleviate the nitrogen deficiency through biological nitrogen (N2) fixation and redistribution of subsoil nitrogen to the surface. The study was conducted on an N-deficient, sandy loam (Alfisol) under bimodal rainfall conditions at Kendu Bay, Nyanza Province in Kenya to compare the effectiveness of A. nilotica, A. senegal and A. xanthophloea. This was carried out in order to improve degraded lands by fixing nitrogen from the air, extracting water and nutrients from the soil and investigating the resulting effects on maize yields. Optimal spacing for the Acacia trees for the nitrogen fixation was also evaluated in two seasons to enhance maize yields and nutrients extractions from the soil. Assessment of the relationship between the amount of phosphorus in the soil and nitrogen fixation/availability by the Acacias were also carried out simultaneously. There was poor response in the first season but there was significant increase (P < 0.05) in maize yield due to planting A. nilotica, A. senegal and A. xanthophloea in the second season. The planting of A. nilotica at different spacing in the second season also contributed to the significant increase in the maize yield. In the first season, the Acacias intercropping reduced maize yields. The yield reduction in the first season might be attributed to competition with maize plants when the trees had not grown long enough roots for effective nodulation, and nitrogen fixation while in the second season the Acacia trees had grown long roots that were effective in the nitrogen fixation. Again in the first season close planting spacing of the Acacia reduced yields of the maize. In the second season there was significant (P < 0.05) maize yield increase under closely spaced Acacia trees. These results demonstrate that the benefits of Acacia intercropping in increasing maize yields are more effective after the Acacias have grown and the close spacing of Acacia may be more beneficial in effective nitrogen fixation and supply in the long run. There was increase in phosphorus concentration in maize plants in season two whereby A. nilotica had an increase in phosphorus from 0.183% in season one to 0.363% in season two. The close spacing of the trees was important in phosphorus build up and nitrogen fixation as shown by higher amounts of nitrogen in the soil and maize plants in season two. Soil pH did not vary and remained almost neutral with soil moisture content increasing due to added organic matter from the trees. The findings of this study can be used to intensify agroforestry at the farm level to increase food security in the Lake Victoria Basin and the work should involve all the stakeholders (farmers, extension officers, researchers, non-governmental organizations, leaders, and community based organizations) in decision making and implementation.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 229.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 299.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 299.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  1. Becky H (2004) The Acacia tree: a sustainable resource for Africa. FRP/DFID, Oxford, pp 9–24

    Google Scholar 

  2. Palm CA (1995) Contribution of agroforestry trees to nutrient requirements of intercropped plants. Agroforest Syst 30:105–124

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Wagner SC (2011) Biological nitrogen fixation. Nat Educ Knowl 3:15

    Google Scholar 

  4. Keiko K, Richard LW, John DR (1987) Role of glutamate dehydrogenase in ammonia assimilation in nitrogen-fixing Bacillus macerans. J Bacteriol 169:4692–4695

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Stevenson FJ (1986) Cycles of soil. Carbon, nitrogen, phosphorous, sulphur micronutrients. Wiley, New York, pp 106–108

    Google Scholar 

  6. Jansson SL, Persson J (1982) Mineralization and immobilization of soil nitrogen. In: Stevenson FJ (ed) Nitrogen in agricultural soils. Wiley, New York, pp 229–252

    Google Scholar 

  7. Buresh RJ, Tian G (1998) Soil improvement by trees in sub-Saharan Africa. Agroforest Syst 38:51–76

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Palm CA, Myers RJK, Nandwa SN (1997) Combined use of organic and inorganic nutrient sources for soil fertility maintenance and replenishment. In: Buresh RJ, Sanchez PA, Calhoun F (eds) Replenishing soil fertility in Africa. Soil Society of America, Wisconsin, pp 193–217

    Google Scholar 

  9. Garrity DP (2004) Agroforestry and the achievement of the millennium development goals. Agroforest Syst 61:5–17

    Google Scholar 

  10. Sanchez PA (1999) Improved-fallows come of age in the tropics. Agroforest Syst 47:3–12

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. Szott LT, Palm CA, Buresh RJ (1999) Ecosystem fertility and fallow function in the humid and subhumid tropics. Agroforest Syst 47:163–196

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Gallagher RS, Fernandes ECM, McCallie EL (1999) Weed management through short-term improved-fallows in tropical agro-ecosystems. Agroforest Syst 47:197–221

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. Franzel S (1998) Socio-economic factors affecting the adoption of potential improved tree fallows in Africa. Agroforest Syst 47:305–321

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. Jaiyeoba IA (2003) Changes in soil properties due to continuous cultivation in Nigerian semiarid savannah. Soil Till Res 70:91–98

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. Rao MR, Mathuva MN, Gacheru E, Radersma SPC, Jama B (2002) Duration of Sesbania fallow effect for nitrogen requirement of maize in planted fallow-maize rotation in western Kenya. Expl Agric 38:223–236

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. Sanchez PA (2002) Soil fertility and hunger in Africa. Sci Compass 295:2019–2020

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Mafongoya PL, Dzowela BH (1999) Biomass production of tree fallows and their residual effect on maize in Zimbabwe. Agroforest Syst 47:139–151

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. Kang BT, Akinnifesi FK, Ladipo DO (1994) Performance of selected woody agroforestry species grown on an Alfisol and Ultisol in the humid lowland of west Africa and their effects on soil properties. J Trop For Sci 7:303–312

    Google Scholar 

  19. Tian G, Salako FK, Ishida F (2001) Replenishment of C, N, and P in a degraded Alfisol under humid tropical conditions: effect of fallow species and litter polyphenols. Soil Sci 166:614–621

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Odee D (1990) Some characteristics of the Rhizobium symbiosis of Sesbania sesban and its potential for biological nitrogen fixation in Kenya. In: Macklin B, Evans DO (eds) Perennial Sesbania species in agroforestry systems. ICRAF and Nitrogen Fixing Tree Association, Wimanal, pp 203–209

    Google Scholar 

  21. Rajendran K, Devaraj P (2004) Biomass and nutrient distribution and their return of Casuarina equisetifolia inoculated with biofertilizers in farmland. Biomass Bioenerg 26:235–249

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. Sanginga N, Vanlauwe B, Danso SKA (1995) Management of biological N2-fixation in alley cropping systems: estimation and contribution to N balance. Plant Soil 174:119–141

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  23. Graham PH, Vance CP (2000) Nitrogen fixation in perspective: an overview of research and extension needs. Field Crop Res 65:93–106

    Article  Google Scholar 

  24. Young A (1997) Agroforestry for Soil Management, 2nd edn. CAB International, Wallingford, p 320

    Google Scholar 

  25. Chalk PM, Ladha JK (1999) Estimation of legume symbiotic dependence: an evaluation of techniques based on 15N dilution. Soil Biol Biochem 31:1901–1917

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  26. Sanginga N, Bowen GD, Danso SKA (1990) Assessment of genetic variability for N2-fixation between and within provenances of Leucaena leucocephala and Acacia albida estimated by 15N labelling techniques. Plant Soil 127:169–178

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  27. Olson RA, Kurtz LT (1982) Crop nitrogen requirements, utilization and fertilization. In: Stevenson FJ (ed) Nitrogen in agricultural Soils. American Society of Agronomy, Wisconsin, pp 567–604

    Google Scholar 

  28. Mengel K, Kirkby EA (1982) Principles of plant nutrition, 2nd edn. International Potash Institute, Bern, pp 153–169

    Google Scholar 

  29. Giller KE (2001) Nitrogen fixation in tropical cropping systems, 2nd edn. CAB International, Wallingford, p 423

    Book  Google Scholar 

  30. Hoekstra D, Corbett JD (1995) Sustainable agricultural growth for the highlands of East and Central Africa: prospects to 2020. International Food Policy Res Inst, Washington, pp 187–219

    Google Scholar 

  31. Ong C (2000) The link between land management and the lake in the Lake Victoria basin. In: Mugo F, Nyantika D, Nyasimi M (eds) Agroforestry seminar proceedings on improved land management in the Lake Victoria Basin, Kisumu, pp 7–12

    Google Scholar 

  32. Peeters T, Aleem MIH (1970) Oxidation of sulfur compounds and electron transport in Thiobacillus denitrificans. Archiv Mikrobiol 71:319

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  33. Armitage FB, Joustra PA, Ben Salem B (1980) Genetic resources of tree species in arid and semi-arid areas. FAO/IBPGR, Rome, Italy, p 11

    Google Scholar 

  34. Omondi W, Maua JO, Gachathi FN (2004) Tree seed handbook of Kenya, vol 1, 2nd edn. GTZ Forestry Seed Centre Muguga, Nairobi, pp 23–52

    Google Scholar 

  35. Sheikh MI (1989) Acacia nilotica (L.) Wild ex Del. Its production, management, and utilization. FAO/Regional Wood Energy Development Program in Asia (GCP/RAS/111/NET), Bangkok, Thailand, pp 23–45

    Google Scholar 

  36. Singh SP (1982) Growth studies of Acacia nilotica. Indian Forest 108:283–288

    Google Scholar 

  37. Thomas V, Grant R (2004) SAPPI tree spotting: Kwazulu–Natal and Eastern Cape. Jacana, Johannesburg, pp 22–27

    Google Scholar 

  38. Mandal AK, Ennos RA, Fagg CW (1994) Mating system analysis in a natural population of Acacia nilotica subspecies leiocarpa. Theor Appl Genet 89:931–935

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  39. Brenan JPM (1983) Manual on taxonomy of Acacia species: present taxonomy of four species of Acacia (A. albida, A. senegal, A. nilotica, A. tortilis). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Rome, Italy, pp 27–31

    Google Scholar 

  40. Fagg CW, Barnes RD, Marunda CT (1997) African Acacia trials network: a seed collection of six species for provenance/progeny tests held at the Oxford Forestry Institute. Forest Genet Resour 25:39–50

    Google Scholar 

  41. Smestad BT, Tiessen H, Buresh RJ (2002) Short fallows of Tithonia diversifolia and Crotalaria grahamiana for soil fertility improvement in western Kenya. Agroforest Syst 55:181–194

    Article  Google Scholar 

  42. Jaetzold R, Schmidt H (1982) Farm management handbook of Kenya. Typo-drunk, Rossdorf, W-Germany, pp 81–84

    Google Scholar 

  43. Ferralsol (2006). Encyclopaedia Britannica. https://global.britannica.com/science/Ferralsol

  44. Okalebo JR, Kenneth WG, Paul LW (1993) Laboratory methods of soil and plant analyses. Soil Science Society of East Africa Technical Publication, Nairobi, pp 22–29

    Google Scholar 

  45. Parkinson JA, Allen SE (1975) A wet oxidation procedure suitable for determination of nitrogen and mineral nutrients in biological materials. Commun Soil Sci Plant Anal 6:1–11

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  46. Anderson JM, Ingram JSI (1989) A handbook of methods of analysis. C.A.B. International, Oxon, pp 11–39

    Google Scholar 

  47. Okalebo JR (1985) A simple wet ashing technique of P, K, Ca and Mg analysis of plant tissue in a single digest. Kenya J Sci Technol B6:129–133

    Google Scholar 

  48. Mafongoya PL, Giller KE, Palm CA (1998) Decomposition and nitrogen release patterns of tree prunings and litter. Agroforest Syst 35:77–97

    Google Scholar 

  49. Giller KE, Cadisch G (1995) Future benefits from biological nitrogen fixation: an ecological approach to agriculture. Plant Soil 174:255–277

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  50. Lajtha K, Harrison AF (1995) Strategies of phosphorus acquisition and conservation by plant species and communities. In: Tiessen H (ed) Phosphorus in the global environment: transfers, cycles and management, Scope 54. Wiley, New York, pp 139–147

    Google Scholar 

  51. Tinker PB (1975) Soil chemistry of phosphorus and mycorrhizal effects on plant growth. In: Sanders FE et al (ed) Endomycorrhizas. Academic, London, pp 353-371

    Google Scholar 

  52. Iyamuremye F, Dick RP (1996) Organic amendments and phosphorus sorption by soils. Adv Agron 56:139–185

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  53. Fox TR, Comerford NB (1990) Lower molecular weight and organic acids in selected soils of south eastern U.S.A. Soil Sci Soc Am J 54:1139–1144

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  54. Nziguheba G, Palm CA, Buresh RJ, Smithson PC (1998) Soil phosphorus fractions and adsorption as affected by organic and inorganic sources. Plant Soil 198:159–168

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the Kenya Forestry Research Institute, KEFRI and my mentor Prophet T.B. Joshua. The authors are grateful for the support.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chemical and Physical Sciences, Walter Sisulu University, Private Bag XI WSU, Nelson Mandela Drive, Mthatha, 5117, Eastern Cape, South Africa

    Nancy Nyamai

  2. Department of Research, Kenya Forestry Research Institute, KEFRI, P.O. Box 20412, Nairobi, Kenya

    Nancy Nyamai & Phanuel Oballa

Authors
  1. Nancy Nyamai
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Phanuel Oballa
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Nancy Nyamai .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Dept. of Chem., Fac. of Science, University of Mauritius, Reduit, Mauritius

    Ponnadurai Ramasami

  2. Dept. of Chem., Fac. of Science, University of Mauritius, Reduit, Mauritius

    Minu Gupta Bhowon

  3. Dept. of Chem., Fac. of Science, University of Mauritius, Reduit, Mauritius

    Sabina Jhaumeer Laulloo

  4. Dept. of Chem., Fac. of Science, University of Mauritius, Reduit, Mauritius

    Henri Li Kam Wah

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2018 Springer International Publishing AG

About this paper

Cite this paper

Nyamai, N., Oballa, P. (2018). Nitrogen Absorption and Immobilization Patterns as Cataysed by the Roots of Acacia Plants. In: Ramasami, P., Gupta Bhowon, M., Jhaumeer Laulloo, S., Li Kam Wah, H. (eds) Emerging Trends in Chemical Sciences. ICPAC 2016. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-60408-4_9

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation