Contribution of Biological Nitrogen Fixation to the Biomass Productivity of Elephant Grass Grown in Low-Fertility Soil for Energy Purposes

Elephant grass has high biomass production potential and can benefit from biological nitrogen fixation (BNF) as its main external nitrogen source. This study evaluated the effect of BNF on biomass productivity and total nitrogen accumulation in different elephant grass genotypes. This experiment was...

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Main Authors: Carolina Almada Gomes de Oliveira, Edevaldo de Castro Monteiro, Wesley dos Santos Souza, Paulo Vitor Alves Pio, Juarez Campolina Machado, Bruno José Rodrigues Alves, Robert Michael Boddey, Segundo Urquiaga
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-02-01
Series:Agronomy
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/15/3/605
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author Carolina Almada Gomes de Oliveira
Edevaldo de Castro Monteiro
Wesley dos Santos Souza
Paulo Vitor Alves Pio
Juarez Campolina Machado
Bruno José Rodrigues Alves
Robert Michael Boddey
Segundo Urquiaga
author_facet Carolina Almada Gomes de Oliveira
Edevaldo de Castro Monteiro
Wesley dos Santos Souza
Paulo Vitor Alves Pio
Juarez Campolina Machado
Bruno José Rodrigues Alves
Robert Michael Boddey
Segundo Urquiaga
author_sort Carolina Almada Gomes de Oliveira
collection DOAJ
description Elephant grass has high biomass production potential and can benefit from biological nitrogen fixation (BNF) as its main external nitrogen source. This study evaluated the effect of BNF on biomass productivity and total nitrogen accumulation in different elephant grass genotypes. This experiment was conducted in a 120 m<sup>2</sup> concrete tank filled with soil labeled with <sup>15</sup>N to estimate the contribution of BNF. The experimental design was randomized blocks with four replications, and the evaluation was over three years of cultivation, with semiannual cuts. The productivity of fresh and dry mass of the shoot, Nitrogen (N) accumulation, and the contribution of BNF by the <sup>15</sup>N natural abundance technique were evaluated. The annual average of BNF was 38%. There was a statistical difference between the treatments, with the genotype P13G13 presenting fresh and dry mass productivity 50% higher than P6G4. The annual average of fresh mass, dry matter, total N, and N derived from BNF in the genotypes was approximately 70, 30, 100 Mg ha<sup>−1</sup>, and 35 kg ha<sup>−1</sup>, respectively. The results obtained by the P13G13 genotype allow us to recommend its use for biomass production aimed at bioenergy, favoring sustainability, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and dependence on synthetic nitrogen fertilizers.
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spelling doaj-art-af7f95bcf2a64b43a1bc7aab7c3e4a242025-08-20T02:41:48ZengMDPI AGAgronomy2073-43952025-02-0115360510.3390/agronomy15030605Contribution of Biological Nitrogen Fixation to the Biomass Productivity of Elephant Grass Grown in Low-Fertility Soil for Energy PurposesCarolina Almada Gomes de Oliveira0Edevaldo de Castro Monteiro1Wesley dos Santos Souza2Paulo Vitor Alves Pio3Juarez Campolina Machado4Bruno José Rodrigues Alves5Robert Michael Boddey6Segundo Urquiaga7Crop Science Department, Federal Rural University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRRJ), Rod. BR 465, km 07, Seropédica, Rio de Janeiro 23897-000, BrazilEmbrapa Agrobiologia, Rod. BR 465, km 07, Seropédica, Rio de Janeiro 23891-470, BrazilEmbrapa Agrobiologia, Rod. BR 465, km 07, Seropédica, Rio de Janeiro 23891-470, BrazilSoils Department, Federal Rural University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRRJ), Rod. BR 465, km 07, Seropédica, Rio de Janeiro 23897-000, BrazilEmbrapa Gado de Leite, Rua Eugênio do Nascimento, 610, Dom Bosco, Juiz de Fora 36038-330, BrazilEmbrapa Agrobiologia, Rod. BR 465, km 07, Seropédica, Rio de Janeiro 23891-470, BrazilSoils Department, Federal Rural University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRRJ), Rod. BR 465, km 07, Seropédica, Rio de Janeiro 23897-000, BrazilEmbrapa Agrobiologia, Rod. BR 465, km 07, Seropédica, Rio de Janeiro 23891-470, BrazilElephant grass has high biomass production potential and can benefit from biological nitrogen fixation (BNF) as its main external nitrogen source. This study evaluated the effect of BNF on biomass productivity and total nitrogen accumulation in different elephant grass genotypes. This experiment was conducted in a 120 m<sup>2</sup> concrete tank filled with soil labeled with <sup>15</sup>N to estimate the contribution of BNF. The experimental design was randomized blocks with four replications, and the evaluation was over three years of cultivation, with semiannual cuts. The productivity of fresh and dry mass of the shoot, Nitrogen (N) accumulation, and the contribution of BNF by the <sup>15</sup>N natural abundance technique were evaluated. The annual average of BNF was 38%. There was a statistical difference between the treatments, with the genotype P13G13 presenting fresh and dry mass productivity 50% higher than P6G4. The annual average of fresh mass, dry matter, total N, and N derived from BNF in the genotypes was approximately 70, 30, 100 Mg ha<sup>−1</sup>, and 35 kg ha<sup>−1</sup>, respectively. The results obtained by the P13G13 genotype allow us to recommend its use for biomass production aimed at bioenergy, favoring sustainability, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and dependence on synthetic nitrogen fertilizers.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/15/3/605nitrogendry matter<sup>15</sup>N natural abundancesoil fertilityenergy plantsgenotype
spellingShingle Carolina Almada Gomes de Oliveira
Edevaldo de Castro Monteiro
Wesley dos Santos Souza
Paulo Vitor Alves Pio
Juarez Campolina Machado
Bruno José Rodrigues Alves
Robert Michael Boddey
Segundo Urquiaga
Contribution of Biological Nitrogen Fixation to the Biomass Productivity of Elephant Grass Grown in Low-Fertility Soil for Energy Purposes
Agronomy
nitrogen
dry matter
<sup>15</sup>N natural abundance
soil fertility
energy plants
genotype
title Contribution of Biological Nitrogen Fixation to the Biomass Productivity of Elephant Grass Grown in Low-Fertility Soil for Energy Purposes
title_full Contribution of Biological Nitrogen Fixation to the Biomass Productivity of Elephant Grass Grown in Low-Fertility Soil for Energy Purposes
title_fullStr Contribution of Biological Nitrogen Fixation to the Biomass Productivity of Elephant Grass Grown in Low-Fertility Soil for Energy Purposes
title_full_unstemmed Contribution of Biological Nitrogen Fixation to the Biomass Productivity of Elephant Grass Grown in Low-Fertility Soil for Energy Purposes
title_short Contribution of Biological Nitrogen Fixation to the Biomass Productivity of Elephant Grass Grown in Low-Fertility Soil for Energy Purposes
title_sort contribution of biological nitrogen fixation to the biomass productivity of elephant grass grown in low fertility soil for energy purposes
topic nitrogen
dry matter
<sup>15</sup>N natural abundance
soil fertility
energy plants
genotype
url https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/15/3/605
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