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Biological nitrogen fixation in soybean in Argentina: relationships with crop, soil, and meteorological factors

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Abstract

Aims

This study aims to (i) asses the contribution of biological N fixation (%Ndfa) in the soybean production area of Argentina, (ii) build a model for predicting %Ndfa using crop, soil, and meteorological variables, and (iii) estimate %Ndfa at the country level using values obtained in this study.

Methods

%Ndfa was assessed in paddocks and experimental plots located in an area 22–39° S and 56–66° W. %Ndfa was determined using the natural 15N abundance method. A complete data set of soil and meteorological variables (n–47) was used to develop a model for predicting %Ndfa.

Results

A median value of %Ndfa in aboveground biomass of 60 % (interquartile range 46–71 %) was estimated. Larger %Ndfa values were observed in areas with high crops yields. When seed yield was above 3.7 Mg ha−1, effective rainfall during fallow and mean temperature in the seed-filling period explained %Ndfa. Below 3.7 Mg ha−1, soil phosphorus content, pH, and effective rainfall in the vegetative period explicated %Ndfa.

Conclusions

Soybean production systems in Argentina showed larger %Ndfa than reported values in literature that may affect global N balances. Identified soil and meteorological variables may be useful for predicting %Ndfa in future studies, taking into account their spatial variation in the soil-plant system.

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Acknowledgments

The authors want to greatly acknowledge valuable contribution in selecting and establishing experimental plots from Norma Arias (INTA Concepción del Uruguay), Gustavo Artaux (INTA Junín), Mirian Barraco (INTA Gral. Villegas), Cristian Brambilla (CREA), Juan Jose Calvo (INTA Junín), Julia Capurro (INTA Cañada de Gomez), Natalia Carrasco (INTA Barrow), Adolfo Carrizo (INTA Salta), Cesar Di Ciocco (Univ. Lujan), Juan Martín Enrico (INTA Oliveros), Hugo Fontanetto (INTA Rafaela), Francisco Fuentes (INTA Marcos Juárez), Pablo Glagovsky (INTA Gualeguaychú), Norma González (INTA Balcarce), Carlos López (INTA Rio I), Hernán Giacomelli (Estancia Runciman), Fernando Martínez (INTA Casilda), Fernando Mousegne (INTA San Antonio de Areco), Leon Murúa (INTA Jesús María), Eduardo Ocampo (INTA EL Colorado), Damian Pafundi (Rizobacter SA), Ricardo Pozzi (CREA), Guillermo Resch (INTA Huinca Renancó), Hector Sanchez (INTA Famailla), Eduardo Sa Pereira (INTA Cnel. Suarez), Diego Santos (INTA Paraná), Luis Ventimiglia (INTA 9 de Julio), Jose Luis Zorzin (AAPRESID), and Sebastian Zuil (INTA Reconquista)

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Funding

This study was funded by INTA (grants AEEV 1512 and PNCER 22472).

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Instituto de Fisiología y Recursos genéticos vegetales, INTA, Córdoba, 5000, Cordoba, Argentina

    D. J. Collino & R. W. Racca

  2. Agronomy Department, EEA Oliveros INTA, Ruta 11 km 353, C2206, Santa Fe, Argentina

    F. Salvagiotti

  3. Instituto de Microbiología y Zoología Agrícola, INTA, Las Cabañas y De los Reseros C.C. 25, 1712, Castelar, Argentina

    A. Perticari & C. Piccinetti

  4. Climatología Agrícola, Facultad de Ciencias Agropecuarias, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, 5000, Córdoba, Argentina

    G. Ovando

  5. Embrapa Agrobiologia, Caixa Postal 74505 CEP, 23851-970, Seropédica, DF, Brazil

    S. Urquiaga

Authors
  1. D. J. Collino
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  2. F. Salvagiotti
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  3. A. Perticari
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  6. S. Urquiaga
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  7. R. W. Racca
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to F. Salvagiotti.

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Responsible Editor: Euan K. James.

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Collino, D.J., Salvagiotti, F., Perticari, A. et al. Biological nitrogen fixation in soybean in Argentina: relationships with crop, soil, and meteorological factors. Plant Soil 392, 239–252 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-015-2459-8

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