Isotopic δ¹⁵N Signature of Grass-Alone and Grass-Legume Tropical Pastures to Estimate Sources of Nitrogen to Grasses in Farmer Managed Pastures

Isotopic δ¹⁵N Signature of Grass-Alone and Grass-Legume Tropical Pastures to Estimate Sources of Nitrogen to Grasses in Farmer Managed Pastures

Vast areas of tropical forest have been converted into pastures sown with introduced grasses (Urochloa spp.). The majority of pastures exist in some stage of degradation, which has dramatic ecological and economic consequences. Our objective was to determine isotopic ¹⁵N signature of grass alone and grass-legume pastures to estimate sources of nitrogen (N) to grasses in farmer managed pastures. This work contributes to enhancing the sustainability of tropical pastures in forest margins through the integration of legumes. The overarching hypothesis tested was that legumes associated with grasses will improve nutrient supply via symbiotic fixation and mobilization of soil phosphorus (P) reserves increasing belowground inputs and recycling of carbon (C), N and P. We have done preliminary research in ten paired plots of productive grass-alone vs. grass-legume pastures on farms located in the Caquetá region of Colombia. Pasture productivity and sources of plant N uptake using ¹⁵N isotope natural abundance methods have been analysed. The integration of legumes increased biomass production by about 74%, and N and P uptake by two-fold. The legumes derived about 80% of their N via symbiotic fixation, showing the significance of this process to N nutrition despite the acidic soil conditions. The isotopic ¹⁵N signature of grasses in grass-alone vs. grass-legume pastures suggested that sources of grass N are affected by pasture composition. Furthermore, low δ¹⁵N found in some grass-alone pastures, indicate that other N sources apart from soil mineral N are being exploited. The role of different processes like symbiosis with arbuscular mycorrhiza fungi, biological nitrification inhibition or associative N fixation need to be further studied to provide a more comprehensive interpretation of N exploitation in grass-alone pastures.