Abstract
Acacia nilotica var. tomentosa trees from the Diarra protected forest located in the Senegal River valley were identified for the assessment of both biological nitrogen fixation, using the natural abundance method, and soil bio-functioning parameters (nodulation, root biomass, total microbial biomass, and potential N mineralization). The presence and the genetic diversity of indigenous rhizobia nodulating A. nilotica var. tomentosa was also investigated, taking into account distance from the trunk (0, 1, 2, and 3 m) and depth (0–25, 25–50, and 50–75 cm). Surprisingly, no nodules on the trees root systems were found, whereas under laboratory conditions the presence of indigenous rhizobia nodulating A. nilotica var. tomentosa was demonstrated in the analyzed soils (90% of the nodules harvested on the trapped plants were occupied by the same Inter-Genic Spacer (IGS) group, IGS1). There was no significant influence of trees and/or depth on total microbial biomass and potentials of nitrogen mineralization. Some assumptions were formulated on the possible combined effect of flooding, which usually occurs annually during 4–7 months, and the clayey soils in the Diara forests. Although a deeply natural nodulation of A. nilotica var. tomentosa trees by indigenous rhizobia is not excluded, but it still remains to be demonstrated.
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Acknowledgments
Full support of this research by the Forest Department of CIRAD, IRD and Project Biodiversity funded by UNDP is gratefully acknowledged. The authors are grateful to I.S. Thioune and I. Fall of the DEFCCS for their technical assistance in the field. The authors wish to thank Dr. Kristina Roing from the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU at Uppsala) for reviewing the manuscript and editing the English.
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Faye, A., Sall, S., Chotte, JL. et al. Soil bio-functioning under Acacia nilotica var. tomentosa protected forest along the Senegal River. Nutr Cycl Agroecosyst 79, 35–44 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10705-007-9093-7
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10705-007-9093-7