Biological nitrogen fixation in four Gliricidia sepium genotypes

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted at the Coconut Research Institute in Sri Lanka to examine the biological nitrogen fixation potential of three Gliricidia sepium provenances (OFI 14/84, 17/84, 12/86) and a local landrace (designated LL), using the 15N isotope dilution method. There was marked variation in dry matter, total N, nodulation and 15N enrichment among the Gliricidia genotypes (=0.001), and the dry matter yield of Cassia siamea (syn. Senna siamea), the non-N2 fixing reference plant was higher than for G. sepium. In all cases, highest biomass and total N were aboveground, with roots on average accounting for < 20 % of total dry matter or the total N in plants. Atom % 15N excess was highest in C. siamea, and lowest in OFI 14/84. Although atom % 15N excess was lower in Gliricidia leaves than in the other organs (all of which had similar 15N enrichments), values of % N derived from atmospheric N2 fixation (% Ndfa) calculated for any individual organ or for the whole plant were similar. This was because the relative distribution of 15N in the different parts of the fixing plant followed the same trend as in the reference plant. There were significant differences (p=0.01) in N2 fixation between the Gliricidia genotypes. The values ranged from 17.8 g N tree-1 (equivalent to 86 kg N ha-1 at 5000 trees ha-1) in OFI 12/86 to 61.7g N tree-1 (equivalent to 309 kg N ha-1) in OFI 14/84. Although most of this variability was due to differences in both % Ndfa and total N in plant, amount of N fixed was more correlated with total N in plant (r=0.935) than with % Ndfa (r=0.707). On average, % Ndfa in all three G. sepium provenances and LL was about 55 % or 34.6 g N tree-1 (equivalent to some 166 kg N ha-1) in the 9 months within which N2 fixation was measured. This represents a substantial contribution of N into the soil-plant system.