<i>Leucaena leucocephala</i> introduction into a tropical pasture in the Chaco region of Argentina. Effects on soil carbon and total nitrogen

Authors

  • Natalia Banegas Instituto de Investigación Animal del Chaco Semiárido (IIACS), Centro de Investigaciones Agropecuarias (CIAP), Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA), Leales, Tucumán, Argentina. Facultad de Agronomía y Zootecnia, Universidad Nacional de Tucumán, Tucumán, Argentina.
  • Roberto Corbella Facultad de Agronomía y Zootecnia, Universidad Nacional de Tucumán, Tucumán, Argentina.
  • Emilce Viruel Instituto de Investigación Animal del Chaco Semiárido (IIACS), Centro de Investigaciones Agropecuarias (CIAP), Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA), Leales, Tucumán, Argentina.
  • Adriana Plasencia Facultad de Agronomía y Zootecnia, Universidad Nacional de Tucumán, Tucumán, Argentina.
  • Belen Roig Facultad de Agronomía y Zootecnia, Universidad Nacional de Tucumán, Tucumán, Argentina.
  • Alejandro Radrizzani Instituto de Investigación Animal del Chaco Semiárido (IIACS), Centro de Investigaciones Agropecuarias (CIAP), Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA), Leales, Tucumán, Argentina.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.17138/tgft(7)295-302

Abstract

Keynote paper presented at the International Leucaena Conference, 1‒3 November 2018, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.

The introduction of leucaena (Leucaena leucocephala), apart from increasing animal production, improves soil fertility through biological nitrogen (N) fixation and its deep-rooted system. There is limited information on carbon and N dynamics in hedgerow silvopastoral systems, particularly in the subsoil profile. The concentrations and vertical distribution of organic carbon (OC) and total N , and their fractions (particulate and associate forms) in the profile (0‒100 cm) of a 4-year-old leucaena stand in a Urochloa brizantha-Chloris gayana pasture were compared with those in the adjacent pure tropical grass
(U. brizantha) pasture. Leucaena introduction increased the OC concentration in the subsoil (20‒100 cm) by 45%, particularly the stable form (associate OC) in the deepest horizon (50‒100 cm). This was attributed to a greater abundance of leucaena roots deeper in the profile than for grass. Leucaena also enhanced by 7.6% the N concentration (from 0.131 to 0.141%) in the topsoil (0‒20 cm) associated with an increment in the labile form (particulate organic N), due to leaf deposition, recycling of animal feces and nodule-N turnover from N fixation. Leucaena establishment has the potential to improve soil fertility and hence availability of N to companion grass growth, and can be utilized as a greenhouse gas mitigation strategy.


How to Cite

Banegas, N., Corbella, R., Viruel, E., Plasencia, A., Roig, B., & Radrizzani, A. (2019). <i>Leucaena leucocephala</i> introduction into a tropical pasture in the Chaco region of Argentina. Effects on soil carbon and total nitrogen. Tropical Grasslands-Forrajes Tropicales, 7(4), 295–302. https://doi.org/10.17138/tgft(7)295-302

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Published

2019-09-03

Issue

Section

ILC2018 Session 5: Leucaena and the environment