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Agriculture
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Advances in Legume Nitrogen Fixation in Agroecosystems
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Advances in Legume Nitrogen Fixation in Agroecosystems

A special issue of Agriculture (ISSN 2077-0472). This special issue belongs to the section "Agricultural Systems and Management".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (20 April 2024) | Viewed by 15638

Special Issue Editor

Prof. Dr. Takuji Ohyama

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Laboratory of Biochemistry in Plant Productivity, Department of Agricultural Chemistry, Tokyo University of Agriculture, Tokyo 156-8502, Japan
Interests: nitrogen fixation; nitrogen metabolism; nitrogen transport; soybean; fertilizer application technology; 15N isotope; roots; seed production; sustainable agriculture
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The availability of nitrogen from soil is generally not enough to support high yields and a high quality of crops. Up to the 19th century, crop rotation and the application of organic matters were practiced, keeping the soil fertility and crop productivity high. Nowadays, farmers can use chemical nitrogen fertilizers for agricultural production. As a result, the productivity of crops increased several-fold during the 20th century to meet the demand of the increasing world population. On the other hand, the excess or inappropriate use of nitrogen fertilizers caused environmental problems such as nitrate leaching and contamination in ground water, and the emission of the global warming gas N2O. The use of legume nitrogen fixation in agriculture or agroecosystems may be one of the best solutions to keep both crop productivity high and to solve the environmental issues.

This Special Issue focuses on the frontiers of the use of legume nitrogen fixation in agroecosystems, including crop production in agricultural fields, and the maintenance of grassland and forestry. For this reason, we welcome interdisciplinary studies from disparate research fields, including agricultural sciences, environmental sciences, ecological sciences, crop management, fertilizer sciences, etc., to improve crop productivity and reduce the ecological problems for sustainable agriculture. Original research articles and reviews are accepted.

Prof. Dr. Takuji Ohyama
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • legume nitrogen fixation
  • legume crop production
  • maintenance of grassland
  • legumes in agroecosystems
  • nitrogen fertilizers
  • physiology
  • environment
  • ecology
  • agriculture

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

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18 pages, 6018 KiB  
Article
Absorption and Transport of Phosphorus in Nodulated Soybean Plants and Diagnosis of Phosphorus Status Using Xylem Sap Analysis
by Yoshiaki Yamamura, Kyoko Higuchi, Akihiro Saito and Takuji Ohyama
Agriculture 2024, 14(3), 403; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture14030403 - 1 Mar 2024
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1190
Abstract
Phosphorus (P) is an essential major element for plants. The absorption and transport of P are important for soybean growth and yield, including nodule growth and N2 fixation. Through an analysis of xylem sap, we investigated how nodulated soybean plants absorb PO [...] Read more.
Phosphorus (P) is an essential major element for plants. The absorption and transport of P are important for soybean growth and yield, including nodule growth and N2 fixation. Through an analysis of xylem sap, we investigated how nodulated soybean plants absorb PO4 via the roots and transport it to the shoot. The nodulated soybean plants were treated with 0, 50, and 250 μM PO4 concentrations for 1, 3, 7, and 15 days. The PO4 concentration in the xylem sap significantly decreased after 1 day of P deprivation, and then it gradually decreased for 15 days. The high-concentration (250 μM PO4) treatment increased the PO4 concentrations in the xylem sap at 7- and 15-day timepoints but not at the 1- or 3-day timepoints. The soybean plants were treated with 0, 25, 50, 100, 150, 250, and 500 μM PO4 for 3 days. The PO4 absorption rate increased consistently in conjunction with the increase in the PO4 concentration; however, the PO4 concentrations in the xylem sap increased only from 0 to 50 μM PO4 but were constant under higher P concentrations. The soybean plants accumulated extra PO4 in the roots. The PO4 concentration in the xylem sap immediately reflected the P deficiency conditions; thus, this index may be used as an indicator for the diagnosis of P deficiency. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Legume Nitrogen Fixation in Agroecosystems)
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14 pages, 2688 KiB  
Article
Development of an N-Free Culture Solution for Cultivation of Nodulated Soybean with Less pH Fluctuation by the Addition of Potassium Bicarbonate
by Takuji Ohyama, Koyo Takayama, Ayaka Akagi, Akihiro Saito, Kyoko Higuchi and Takashi Sato
Agriculture 2023, 13(3), 739; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture13030739 - 22 Mar 2023
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2243
Abstract
Soybean plants can grow by solely depending on fixed N2 through their root nodules, a symbiotic organ with rhizobia. In this study, when nodulated soybeans were cultivated using hydroponics and an N-free culture solution, the pH rapidly decreased to 4.0, which may [...] Read more.
Soybean plants can grow by solely depending on fixed N2 through their root nodules, a symbiotic organ with rhizobia. In this study, when nodulated soybeans were cultivated using hydroponics and an N-free culture solution, the pH rapidly decreased to 4.0, which may be harmful for root growth and nutrient absorption. Therefore, we prepared a new N-free culture solution characterized by less pH fluctuation due to the addition of potassium bicarbonate. A total of 1–2 mM sodium bicarbonate optimized the pH between 6 and 7. However, the solution pH increased to 8–9 during soybean cultivation when 5–20 mM of sodium bicarbonate was applied. The addition of potassium bicarbonate did not affect the dry weight of each organ. The evapotranspiration rate of the plants with bicarbonate on the 37th day after planting was higher than that of the control without bicarbonate. When the K2SO4 was replaced by KHCO3, the pH just after preparation ranged between 6.3 and 6.5, while that after cultivation for two days ranged frp, about 6.1 to 6.5. It was found that more than half of the bicarbonate remained in the culture solution after 3 days of cultivation. The optimum P concentrations for the modified culture solution were found to be 50 and 100 μM, while the P concentrations over 150 μM reduced the plant growth and led to yellowing in the lower leaves. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Legume Nitrogen Fixation in Agroecosystems)
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16 pages, 2761 KiB  
Article
Decomposition and Nitrogen Release Rates of Foliar Litter from Single and Mixed Agroforestry Species under Field Conditions
by Magnolia del Carmen Tzec-Gamboa, Oscar Omar Álvarez-Rivera, Luis Ramírez y Avilés and Francisco Javier Solorio-Sánchez
Agriculture 2023, 13(1), 222; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture13010222 - 16 Jan 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2573
Abstract
Decomposition and N release pattern from the leaves of three shrubs species were studied under field conditions. Leaves of Leucaena leucocephala (Lam.), Guazuma ulmifolia (Lam.) and Moringa oleifera (Lam.) and two mixtures, Leucaena + Moringa and Leucaena + Guazuma, in a complete [...] Read more.
Decomposition and N release pattern from the leaves of three shrubs species were studied under field conditions. Leaves of Leucaena leucocephala (Lam.), Guazuma ulmifolia (Lam.) and Moringa oleifera (Lam.) and two mixtures, Leucaena + Moringa and Leucaena + Guazuma, in a complete randomized block design, were studied during the dry and wet seasons. Litterbags were randomly distributed in each experimental block and placed on the soil surface, and residues were recovered after 2, 4, 8, and 16 weeks. Double exponential model decay was better fitted to describe the pattern of the decay of the release of various leaf constituents. Litter dry weight loss and N release were faster from Moringa, followed by the Leucaena + Moringa mixture, while the Guazuma leaf litter decomposed much slower. In the wet period, a rapid N release was observed for Moringa (60%) and Leucaena + Moringa (43%) in the first two weeks. In contrast, Guazuma and the Leucaena + Guazuma mixture released about 46% of N in 16 weeks. In the dry period, leaves released most of their N during the first 8 to 16 weeks. Moringa and Leucaena + Moringa ranked first, having lost 81 and 75% of its initial N, respectively. The ratios of condensed tannin and polyphenols to N were significantly correlated with the N released. It was concluded that the initial mass loss from the leaf litter was high and rapid in the rainy period in comparison to the dry period. The residue disappearance pattern of Moringa, Leucaena and Leucaena + Moringa followed an asymptotic model, with more than 80% of the original residue released during the 16-week study period. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Legume Nitrogen Fixation in Agroecosystems)
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Review

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26 pages, 2589 KiB  
Review
Enhancing Rhizobium–Legume Symbiosis and Reducing Nitrogen Fertilizer Use Are Potential Options for Mitigating Climate Change
by Mohamed Hemida Abd-Alla, Salem M. Al-Amri and Abdel-Wahab Elsadek El-Enany
Agriculture 2023, 13(11), 2092; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture13112092 - 3 Nov 2023
Cited by 23 | Viewed by 8616
Abstract
This review article explores the impact of nitrogen fertilizers on the symbiotic relationship between Rhizobium bacteria and legume plants. Nitrogen fixation has the potential to address the global protein shortage by increasing nitrogen supply in agriculture. However, the excessive use of synthetic fertilizers [...] Read more.
This review article explores the impact of nitrogen fertilizers on the symbiotic relationship between Rhizobium bacteria and legume plants. Nitrogen fixation has the potential to address the global protein shortage by increasing nitrogen supply in agriculture. However, the excessive use of synthetic fertilizers has led to environmental consequences and high energy consumption. To promote sustainable agriculture, alternative approaches such as biofertilizers that utilize biological nitrogen fixation have been introduced to minimize ecological impact. Understanding the process of biological nitrogen fixation, where certain bacteria convert atmospheric nitrogen into ammonia, is crucial for sustainable agriculture. This knowledge helps reduce reliance on synthetic fertilizers and maintain soil fertility. The symbiotic relationship between Rhizobium bacteria and leguminous plants plays a vital role in sustainable agriculture by facilitating access to atmospheric nitrogen, improving soil fertility, and reducing the need for chemical fertilizers. To achieve optimal nitrogen fixation and plant growth, it is important to effectively manage nitrogen availability, soil conditions, and environmental stressors. Excessive nitrogen fertilization can negatively affect the symbiotic association between plants and rhizobia, resulting in reduced soil health, altered mutualistic relationships, and environmental concerns. Various techniques can be employed to enhance symbiotic efficiency by manipulating chemotaxis, which is the ability of rhizobia to move towards plant roots. Plant-specific metabolites called (iso)flavonoids play a crucial role in signaling and communication between legume plants and rhizobia bacteria, initiating the symbiotic relationship and enhancing nitrogen fixation and plant growth. Excessive nitrogen fertilizer application can disrupt the communication between rhizobia and legumes, impacting chemotaxis, root exudation patterns, nodulation, and the symbiotic relationship. High levels of nitrogen fertilizers can inhibit nitrogenase, a critical enzyme for plant growth, leading to reduced nitrogenase activity. Additionally, excessive nitrogen can compromise the energy demands of nitrogen fixation, resulting in decreased nitrogenase activity. This review discusses the disadvantages of using nitrogenous fertilizers and the role of symbiotic biological nitrogen fixation in reducing the need for these fertilizers. By using effective rhizobial strains with compatible legume cultivars, not only can the amounts of nitrogenous fertilizers be reduced, but also the energy inputs and greenhouse gas emissions associated with their manufacturing and application. This approach offers benefits in terms of reducing greenhouse gas emissions and saving energy. In conclusion, this paper provides a comprehensive overview of the current understanding of the impact of nitrogen fertilizers on the symbiotic relationship between Rhizobium and legume plants. It also discusses potential strategies for sustainable agricultural practices. By managing nitrogen fertilizers carefully and improving our understanding of the symbiotic relationship, we can contribute to sustainable agriculture and minimize environmental impact. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Legume Nitrogen Fixation in Agroecosystems)
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