Farmer - managed trials for evaluation of rhizatech and legumefix in Bungoma district Kenya
Abstract
133 words
The nitrogen reserve of agricultural soils must be replenished
periodically in order to maintain an adequate level for crop
production. This replacement of soil nitrogen is generally
accomplished by the addition of fertilizers or as products of
biological nitrogen fixation (BNF). Symbiotic BNF allows many
legumes to meet their nitrogen requirements from the
atmosphere rather than the soil but in some cases, the resident
population of rhizobium bacteria, the microsymbiont associated
with nitrogen-fixing legumes, may not perform as an effective
symbiotic partner. Increasing grain, tree and pasture legume
production and matching these legumes with the correct
microsymbiont are therefore a key component of improving
agriculture and ecosystem services in the tropics. Identifying
niches for legume BNF within existing farming systems is of
paramount importance as the price of inorganic fertilizer
continue to increase.
Subjects
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