Biotechnologie, Agronomie, Société et Environnement (Jan 2000)
Isoptopic evidence of the transfer of nitrogen fixed by legumes to coffee trees
Abstract
The use of isotopic methods has made it possible to quantify the contribution of nitrogen fixed by a coffee plantation. Thanks to the use of the natural 15N abundance assessment technique, we were able to show that, in field condition, roughly 30/ of the nitrogen effectively fixed by a legume (including biomass, roots and root exudates) were transferred to the associated coffee trees. The quantities of N transferred by legume prunings to sole coffee trees were measured to evaluate the amount of N transferred to coffee via litter fall or soil.
