TY - JOUR
T1 - Quantifying the Spatiotemporal Variations of Soil Nitrogen Fixation or Absorption from Soybean, Cotton, and Maize Planted Fields to Support Sustainable Agriculture Practices
AU - Bofana, José
AU - Mussane, Raul Domingos
AU - Tamele, Rosalina Armando
AU - Costa, Ana Cristina
AU - Savanguane, Barreta
AU - Popinsky, Ivans
AU - Matusse, António F.
N1 - https://doi.org/10.54499/CEECINST/00102/2018/CP1567/CT0002#
info:eu-repo/grantAgreement/FCT/6817 - DCRRNI ID/UIDB%2F04152%2F2020/PT#
https://doi.org/10.54499/UIDB/04152/2020#
Bofana, J., Mussane, R. D., Tamele, R. A., Costa, A. C., Savanguane, B., Popinsky, I., & Matusse, A. F. (2024). Quantifying the Spatiotemporal Variations of Soil Nitrogen Fixation or Absorption from Soybean, Cotton, and Maize Planted Fields to Support Sustainable Agriculture Practices. Nitrogen, 5(4), 1135-1155. https://doi.org/10.3390/nitrogen5040073 --- This research and the APC were funded by the SASAKAWA AFRICA ASSOCIATION (SSA) through the SASAKAWA AFRICA FUND FOR EXTENSION EDUCATION (SAFE) project. The authors would like to express their gratitude to the Universidade Católica de Moçambique, Faculdade de Ciências Agronómicas for granting the research team access to the organization’s facilities, namely the Soil and Water Laboratory and Experimental Field. They also wish to extend their gratitude to the Grupo João Ferreira dos Santos, Sociedade Algodoeira do Niassa (JFS-San) for the unconditional support and to those who contributed to this research, either by assisting with its activities or offering recommendations for enhancing the manuscript (specially to Mr Miquitaio João Rego and Samuel Nito Miguel Mussava, for their help in refining the research topic). Ana Cristina Costa acknowledges the support from the Information Management Research Center (MagIC)—NOVA Information Management School, Lisbon, Portugal, funded by FCT, Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia, I.P. (https://doi.org/10.54499/CEECINST/00102/2018/CP1567/CT0002).
PY - 2024/12/12
Y1 - 2024/12/12
N2 - Sustainable agricultural practices are pivotal for environmental preservation and enhancing crop quality. Understanding soil nutrient levels is crucial in determining appropriate fertilizer application in agriculture production systems. In the 2022/23 agricultural season, an experiment that aimed to investigate the spatial distribution of nitrogen (N2) fixation or absorption in fields cultivated with diverse crops was carried out in Mozambique. Three experimental fields were established, and the following crops were used—maize (local variety), soybean (SAN-BEIB variety), and cotton (ALBAR SZ9314 variety)—each measuring 83.35 m × 30 m. A sampling grid of 13.9 m × 10 m facilitated the collection of 24 composite soil samples per field, consisting of 5 sub-samples within 12 cells, taken at a depth of 0.0–0.20 m before planting and after harvesting, totaling 12 samples per period per field. Laboratory analysis employed the Kjeldahl method to determine total soil nitrogen levels. The Inverse Distance Weighted (IDW) method was used for mapping the spatial total soil nitrogen distribution. The results revealed distinct total soil nitrogen credit and debit patterns. Variations were notable between pre-planting and post-harvest analyses in maize and cotton, showcasing high absorption and minimal fixation. Contrary to expectations, soybeans exhibited high absorption and low fixation, challenging the determination of optimal crop rotation intervals. Quantitative results identified specific total soil nitrogen debit efficiencies of approximately 1692.29 kg ha−1 in cotton and 1081.5 kg ha−1 in maize, respectively, and a credit of 459.215 kg ha−1 in soybeans. Despite discrepancies, this study serves as a foundational platform for future research. As the findings of this study advocate for continued crop rotation practices to bolster soil health and enhance nutrient utilization, it provides the first novel insights into nitrogen dynamics of global key crops in Mozambique, revealing significant variations in nitrogen fixation and absorption across different crop types and fields, which is crucial for informing tailored agricultural practices and soil fertility management strategies.
AB - Sustainable agricultural practices are pivotal for environmental preservation and enhancing crop quality. Understanding soil nutrient levels is crucial in determining appropriate fertilizer application in agriculture production systems. In the 2022/23 agricultural season, an experiment that aimed to investigate the spatial distribution of nitrogen (N2) fixation or absorption in fields cultivated with diverse crops was carried out in Mozambique. Three experimental fields were established, and the following crops were used—maize (local variety), soybean (SAN-BEIB variety), and cotton (ALBAR SZ9314 variety)—each measuring 83.35 m × 30 m. A sampling grid of 13.9 m × 10 m facilitated the collection of 24 composite soil samples per field, consisting of 5 sub-samples within 12 cells, taken at a depth of 0.0–0.20 m before planting and after harvesting, totaling 12 samples per period per field. Laboratory analysis employed the Kjeldahl method to determine total soil nitrogen levels. The Inverse Distance Weighted (IDW) method was used for mapping the spatial total soil nitrogen distribution. The results revealed distinct total soil nitrogen credit and debit patterns. Variations were notable between pre-planting and post-harvest analyses in maize and cotton, showcasing high absorption and minimal fixation. Contrary to expectations, soybeans exhibited high absorption and low fixation, challenging the determination of optimal crop rotation intervals. Quantitative results identified specific total soil nitrogen debit efficiencies of approximately 1692.29 kg ha−1 in cotton and 1081.5 kg ha−1 in maize, respectively, and a credit of 459.215 kg ha−1 in soybeans. Despite discrepancies, this study serves as a foundational platform for future research. As the findings of this study advocate for continued crop rotation practices to bolster soil health and enhance nutrient utilization, it provides the first novel insights into nitrogen dynamics of global key crops in Mozambique, revealing significant variations in nitrogen fixation and absorption across different crop types and fields, which is crucial for informing tailored agricultural practices and soil fertility management strategies.
KW - variable application rate
KW - N spatial distribution
KW - plant size
KW - seed vigor
KW - spatial distribution
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85213503329&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - https://www.webofscience.com/wos/woscc/full-record/WOS:001384447600001
U2 - 10.3390/nitrogen5040073
DO - 10.3390/nitrogen5040073
M3 - Article
SN - 2504-3129
VL - 5
SP - 1135
EP - 1155
JO - Nitrogen
JF - Nitrogen
IS - 4
ER -