Abstract

ROJAS-VELAZQUEZ, Montserrath et al. Greenhouse trial of green manures on soil properties, chard production and environmental implications. Rev. Mex. Cienc. Agríc [online]. 2020, vol.11, n.4, pp.945-951.  Epub Sep 13, 2021. ISSN 2007-0934.  https://doi.org/10.29312/remexca.v11i4.2104.

In this trial, legumes dolichos beans (Lablab purpureos L. ex Sweet) and yorimon beans (Vigna unguiculata L. Walp) as green manures were studied. The objectives of the study were to evaluate the ability to capture carbon and fix nitrogen, as well as to measure the effects of its incorporation in the soil, the production of chard (Beta vulgaris var. cicla L.) and to analyze the environmental implications. In the results, L. purpureos produced 1 932 kg of dry matter in 90 days after sowing (869 kg ha-1 of C) and fixed 30 kg of N ha-1 in its tissues, while V. unguiculata produced 2 040 kg of dry matter in 80 days after sowing (918 kg ha-1 of C) and fixed 40 kg of N ha-1 in its tissues. The soil effects were not significant in both AV, compared to the control treatment (without AV). However, both promoted an increase in the weight of chard (40% in L. purpureos and 31% in V. unguiculata). Environmentally, green manures can reduce the carbon footprint by 280 kg ha-1 of CO2 equivalent by dispensing with synthetic nitrogenous chemical fertilizers in the production of chard. Green manures, as a source of nutrients, especially N, could form part of the integral management of the soil in the horticultural production systems of semi-arid zones.

Keywords : Lablab purpureos L.; Vigna unguiculata L.; CO₂; GHG; horticulture.