Development and natural nodulation of legume trees in soils from Pernambuco, Brazil

Abstract

The objective of this work was to evaluate the development and natural nodulation of Leucaena leucocephala, Clitoria fairchildiana and Mimosa caesalpiniifolia, in soils with different type of land use, in Zona da Mata of Pernambuco, Brazil. Soils of four forest areas, six agriculture areas and two degraded areas were used. Soils were classified, analyzed chemically and distributed in pots 3 kg soil per pot, two plants per pot. Plant evaluations were carried out at 76, 70 and 62 days, for L. leucocephala, C. fairchildiana and M. caesalpiniifolia, respectively. The experimental design was completely randomized, with 12 treatments and 3 repetitions. Low frequencies of native populations of rhizobia were verified for L. leucocephala, with 22% of plants nodulated, compared to C. fairchildiana and M. caesalpiniifolia, with 100% and 86%, respectively. M. caesalpiniifolia presented abundant natural nodulation and efficiency in the fixation of N2, demonstrating compatibility with native populations of rhizobia. Growth, development, nodulation as well as accumulation of nitrogen of the three species, were favored with soil under agricultural areas with covering of Calopogonium mucunoides. C. fairchildiana presented greater potential for fixation of N2 and efficiency of the nodulation with native populations of rhizobia followed by M. caesalpiniifolia and L. leucocephala.