Biological nitrogen fixation contributes to soil productivity in tropical agroecologies
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Date
2021-03-15
Authors
Bello, S.K.,
Shobayo, A.B.
Ibrahim, M.M
Alasinrin, S.Y.
Aliyu, I.A.
Yusuf, A.A.
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Soil Science Society of Nigeria
Abstract
Biological nitrogen fixation (BNF) is described as a sustainable and economically
friendly source of N for crop productivity and soil biodiversity. However, its contri
butions to tropical soil have not been fully harnessed especially in the African trop
ics. There is therefore need to review the successes and contributions of this benefi
cial source of N in tropical agroecologies. Thus, this review investigated the contri
bution of BNF to soil N pool in legumes as well as N in rice and sugarcane cultiva
tion. It was gathered that most BNF systems are restricted to scientific researches
and has not been fully utilized by farmers on a large scale especially in tropical
Africa. If BNF is to be optimally utilized for improved productivity of soils and
crops, its use must be matched with the requirements of the prevailing environmen
tal condition. In the near future, particularly in tropical regions of the world, tre
mendous opportunities exist for improving the impact of BNF on N economy in
agricultural ecosystems through improved farming practices and molecular ad
vancement in organisms, crop and environment.
Description
Keywords
Biological nitrogen fixation, Tropics Africa legumes