Therapeutic and pathogenetic animal models for Dolichos pruriens

The therapeutic and pathogenetic effects of Dolichos pruriens were evaluated using experimental models in rats. In the therapeutic experiment Wistar rats were housed in a heated environment (25 +/- 3 degrees C) to induce itch, and treated with ascending potencies D. pruriens (6 cH, 9 cH, 12 cH and 30 cH), each for 10 days. The positive control group received vehicle (ethanol 30% in water). The negative control group received no treatment and were kept at a standard temperature.In the pathogenetic experiment, all animals were kept at a temperature of 20+/-3 degrees C and treated for 30 consecutive days with D. pruriens 6 or 30 cH, or ethanol vehicle, or no treatment. The experiments were performed blind.The statistical analysis used Bartlett's test, followed by ANOVA/Tuckey-Krammer or Kruskal-Wallis/Dunn. The results point to the existence of therapeutic effects, with inhibition of the itching, skin lesions and fur thinning produced by heat, more evident in later observations, with the 9 12, and 30 cH potencies (Kruskal-Wallis/Dunn; P = 0.001). No changes were observed in the other parameters, such as open field activity and laterality of the itching. In the pathogenetic experiment, no changes were observed in any parameters examined. We conclude that the proposed experimental model demonstrates the therapeutic effect of D. pruriens, but not its pathogenetic effects.

CLXXX. Vegetable Proteins. I. The Proteins of Dolichos Lab Lab

The field bean (Dolichos lab lab ; Tamil name, Mochai ; Kanarese, Avarai) is a legume which is widely cultivated in South India often as a mixed crop with cereals. The kernel of the seed enters into the diet of may South Indian households, and in the Mysore State the seed are used as a delicacy when they are green for over four months in the year. The haulm, husk and pods are commonly used a fodder. As the kernel which is widely used as an article of food and considered to be very nutritious, contains about 24% of protein hitherto uninvestigated and as the quality of protein plays an important role in nutrition, the present work was undertaken.

Crystallization and preliminary X-ray crystallographic analysis of a galactose-specific lectin from Dolichos lablab

The galactose-specific lectin from the seeds of Dolichos lablab has been crystallized using the hanging-drop vapour-diffusion technique. The crystals belong to space group P1, with unit-cell parameters a = 73.99, b = 84.13, c = 93.15 angstrom, alpha = 89.92, beta = 76.01, gamma = 76.99 degrees. X-ray diffraction data to a resolution of 3.0 angstrom have been collected under cryoconditions ( 100 K) using a MAR imaging-plate detector system mounted on a rotating-anode X-ray generator. Molecular-replacement calculations carried out using the available structures of legume lectins as search models revealed that the galactose-specific lectin from D. lablab forms a tetramer similar to soybean agglutinin; two such tetramers are present in the asymmetric unit.

The complete primary structure of a unique mannose/glucose-specific lectin from field bean (Dolichos lab lab)

The complete amino acid sequence of two non identical subunits of the glucose/mannose-specific lectin from Dolichos lab lab (field bean) has been determined by sequential Edman analyses of the intact subunits and peptides derived by enzymatic and chemical cleavage. Peptides were purified by reverse phase high performance liquid chromatography and ion pair chromatography. The D. lab lab lectin is a glycoprotein having two polypeptide chains of 132 and 105 amino acid residues. The amino acid sequence of the D. Lab lab lectin is compared with the various lectins of the family Leguminosae. The D. lab lab lectin is the only species of the tribe Phaseoleae that contains two nonidentical subunits of almost equal size and that shows a specificity to glucose/ mannose. The lectin shows a greater homology to the glucose/mannose specific lectins, especially concanavalin A. The unique subunit architecture of the D. lab lab lectin indicates the presence of new post translational cleavage sites.

Electrochemical Determination of L-Dopa in Mucuna pruriens Seeds, Leaves and Commercial Siddha Product Using Gold Modified Pencil Graphite Electrode

In the present work a gold modified pencil graphite electrode (GPGE) was used for the determination of L-dopa present in the aqueous extracts of Mucuna pruriens seeds (MPS), Mucuna pruriens leaves (MPL) and Commercial Siddha Product (CSP). The GPGE shows excellent electrocatalytic activity towards the oxidation of both L-dopa and ascorbic acid (AA), with the separation of peak potential of 98 mV. The differential pulse voltammetric (DPV) results indicated that the detection limit for L-dopa was 1.54 mu M (S/N=3). This method can be successfully applied for the determination of L-dopa in real samples.

Affinity of a galactose-specific legume lectin from Dolichos lablab to adenine revealed by X-ray cystallography

Crystal structure analysis of a galactose-specific lectin from a leguminous food crop Dolichos lablab (Indian lablab beans) has been carried out to obtain insights into its quaternary association and lectin-carbohydrate interactions. The analysis led to the identification of adenine binding sites at the dimeric interfaces of the heterotetrameric lectin. Structural details of similar adenine binding were reported in only one legume lectin, Dolichos biflorus, before this study. Here, we present the structure of the galactose-binding D. lablab lectin at different pH values in the native form and in complex with galactose and adenine. This first structure report on this lectin also provides a high resolution atomic view of legume lectin-adenine interactions. The tetramer has two canonical and two DB58-like interfaces. The binding of adenine, a non-carbohydrate ligand, is found to occur at four hydrophobic sites at the core of the tetramer at the DB58-like dimeric interfaces and does not interfere with the carbohydrate-binding site. To support the crystallographic observations, the adenine binding was further quantified by carrying out isothermal calorimetric titration. By this method, we not only estimated the affinity of the lectin to adenine but also showed that adenine binds with negative cooperativity in solution.

Estudio de siete leguminosas de cobertura en asocio con el cultivo de pitahaya (Hylocereus undatus, Britton y Rose), como manejo de las malezas y aporte de nutrientes

Durante la época de primera de 1995, se estableció un experimento de campo en la finca Buenos Aires, localizada en el municipio de la Concepción, departamento de Masaya, con el propósito de evaluar la influencia de siete leguminosas de cobertura en asocio en el cultivo de la pitahaya (Hylocereus undatus. Britton & Rose), como manejo de las malas hierbas y aporte de nutrientes al suelo a partir de la materia orgánica incorporada. El diseño experimental utilizado en el estudio fue un Bloque Completos al azar, con cuatro repeticiones.Los tratamientos en estudio fueron: Vigna radiata, Mucuna pruriens, Phaseolus vulgaris, Dolichos lablab, Canavalia ensiformis, Cajanus cajan (semilla gris y roja), y el tratamiento testigo, el cual representa el manejo tradicional en el control de las malezas de parte del productor. Los resultados indican que las especies de malezas más dominantes fueron plantas de la familia poaceae sobresaliendo Cenchrus brownü, Digitaria ciliaris y Eleusine indica. Melampodium divaricatum de la familia Asteraceae. Mollugo verticillata de la familia Aizoaceae. Chamaesyce hirta de la familia Euphorbiaceae. Tetramerium nervosum y Elytraria imbricata de la familia Acanthaceae. Las especies descritas anteriormente fueron las más abundantes y estuvieron presentes en la diversidad. Tanto en la abundancia de malezas como en cobertura de las leguminosas los mejores resultados se presentaron en los tratamientos Dolichos lablab y Mucuna pruriens, seguido de Cajanus cajan (Gandul semilla roja y semilla gris), y Canavalia ensiformis. Por último los tratamientos Vigna radiata, Phaseolus vulgaris y el testigo, registraron la mayor abundancia de malezas. Tanto en la diversidad como en biomasa los mejores resultados se obtuvieron en Dolichos lablab y Mucuna pruriens, seguidos de Canavalia ensiformis y Cajanus cajan (Gandul semilla gris), por último se encuentran Cajanus cajan (Gandul semilla rojo), Vigna radiata, Phaseolus vulgaris y el testigo. En cuanto al aporte de nutrientes a partir de las materia orgánica los mejores resultados se presentaron en los tratamientos Vigna radiata, Dolichos lablab, Mucuna pruriens Cajanus cajan (Gandul semilla rojo y semilla gris), seguido de Canavalia ensiformis y Phaseolus vulgaris. Por último el que menor cantidad de nutrientes aportó fue el tratamiento testigo. En relación a la biomasa de las leguminosas, los mejores resultados se obtuvieron en los tratamientos Canavalia ensiformis y Cajanus cajan (Gandul semilla gris), registrando el mayor peso seco, seguido de Mucuna pruriens, Cajanus cajan (Gandul semilla roja), y Dolichos lablab. En tanto los tratamientos Phaseolus vulgaris y Vigna radiata, registraron el menor peso seco entre las leguminosas. En cuanto al mayor número y longitud de brotes (vainas) por planta, los mejores resultados se presentaron en los tratamientos Vigna radiata, Canavalia ensiformis y Dolichos lablab, seguido de Mucuna pruriens, Phaseolus vulgaris y Cajanus cajan (Gandul semilla gris y roja). En tanto el tratamiento testigo registró el menor número y longitud de brotes (vainas) por planta. Con respecto al rendimiento (Frutos 1 ha), los mejores resultados se obtuvieron en el tratamiento Dolichos lablab, seguidos de Cajanus cajan (Gandul semilla roja), Mucuna pruriens y Vigna radiata, presentaron rendimientos similares, seguidos de Cajanus cajan (Gandul semilla gris), Canavalia ensiformis y Phaseolus vulgaris, en tanto el testigo presentó el más bajo rendimiento. En cuanto al análisis económico de los tratamientos en estudio, el de mejor rentabilidad resultó ser Dolichos lablab, dado que ofrece el más alto beneficio neto, pese a ser uno de los tratamientos en que los costos fueron los más altos, además en éste tratamiento se obtuvo el mejor rendimiento de frutos.

Efecto de diferentes frijoles abonos sobre la dinámica de macronutrientes (N,P,K) del suelo, el aporte de materia orgánica, la incidencia de las diferentes pestes agrícolas y sobre el crecimiento y rendimiento de la pitahaya (Hylocereus undatus Britton y Rose)

Durante la época de postrera en 1997 se estableció un experimento de campo en la finca Frutas Tropicales y Cia Ltda, ubicada en el km 38 carretera MasayaTipitapa, Nicaragua para evaluar el efecto de diferentes frijoles abonos sobre la dinámica de macronutrientes del suelo, aporte de materia orgánica y la incidencia de las diferentes pestes agrícolas sobre el crecimiento y rendimiento de la pitahaya (Hylocereus undatus, Britton & Rose). El diseño experimental utilizado fue un bloque completo al azar con tres repeticiones. Los tratamientos evaluados fueron: Mucuna pruriens (L), Cajanus cajan (L), Canavalia ensiformis (L), Vigna unguiculata (L), Dolichos lablab (L) y el tratamiento sin frijol. Los fríjoles abonos ejercen un efecto positivo en el aporte de nutriente y reciclaje de los mismos mejoran la fertilidad del suelo. También aportan gran cantidad de materia orgánica a partir de los restos vegetales produciendo mayor biomasa C. ensiformis, C. cajan y M pruriens. Las malas hierbas fueron controladas eficazmente por los frijoles abonos, principalmente las monocotiledóneas; no así en el tratamiento sin frijol. Las malas hierbas que más predominaron fueron: Acalypha alopecuroides (L), Hybanthus attenuatus (H&B), Chamaesyce hirta (L), Rícharcdia scabra (L), Hyparrhenia rufa (Nees), Digitaria sanguinalis (L), Panicum decumbens (L), Panicum reptans (L) y Cynodon nlejluensis (Vanderyst). Las poblaciones de insectos plagas fueron menores en los tratamientos que predominaba el clon más resistente al ataque de insectos plagas. Los insectos plagas de suelo fueron controlados por los frijoles abonos, al igual que los nematodos. La incidencia de las enfermedades Colletotrichum goesporiodes Penz (Antracnosis) y Dotiorella sp (Ojo de Pescado) fue menor en los tratamientos donde predominaba el clon Cebra. La Erwinia carotovora Iones (Bacteriosis) presentó menor incidencia bajo el efecto de D. lablab y C. ensiformis. El efecto positivo del asocio de estos fríjoles abonos con la pitahaya mejora su crecimiento produciendo más brotes bajo la presencia de C. cajan, se obtuvieron incremento en los rendimientos tanto en el número de fiutos por hectárea como en el rendimiento en kg/ha bajo el efecto de C. cajan, M pruriens y D. lablab

In vitro protection of umbilical cord blood–derived primitive hematopoietic stem progenitor cell pool by mannose-specific lectins via antioxidant mechanisms

BACKGROUND: Earlier we reported that an oral administration of two mannose-specific dietary lectins, banana lectin (BL) and garlic lectin (GL), led to an enhancement of hematopoietic stem and progenitor cell (HSPC) pool in mice. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: Cord blood–derived CD34+ HSPCs were incubated with BL, GL, Dolichos lectin (DL), or artocarpin lectin (AL) for various time periods in a serum- and growth factor–free medium and were subjected to various functional assays. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels were detected by using DCHFDA method. Cell fractionation was carried out using lectin-coupled paramagnetic beads. RESULTS: CD34+ cells incubated with the lectins for 10 days gave rise to a significantly higher number of colonies compared to the controls, indicating that all four lectins possessed the capacity to protect HSPCs in vitro. Comparative analyses showed that the protective ability of BL and GL was better than AL and DL and, therefore, further experiments were carried out with them. The output of long-term culture-initiating cell (LTC-IC) and extended LTC-IC assays indicated that both BL and GL protected primitive stem cells up to 30 days. The cells incubated with BL or GL showed a substantial reduction in the ROS levels, indicating that these lectins protect the HSPCs via antioxidant mechanisms. The mononuclear cell fraction isolated by lectin-coupled beads got enriched for primitive HSPCs, as reflected in the output of phenotypic and functional assays. CONCLUSION: The data show that both BL and GL protect the primitive HSPCs in vitro and may also serve as cost-effective HSPC enrichment tools.

In vitro protection of umbilical cord blood-derived primitive hematopoietic stem progenitor cell pool by mannose-specific lectins via antioxidant mechanisms.

BACKGROUND: Earlier we reported that an oral administration of two mannose-specific dietary lectins, banana lectin (BL) and garlic lectin (GL), led to an enhancement of hematopoietic stem and progenitor cell (HSPC) pool in mice. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: Cord blood derived CD34+ HSPCs were incubated with BL, GL, Dolichos lectin (DL), or artocarpin lectin (AL) for various time periods in a serum- and growth factor free medium and were subjected to various functional assays. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels were detected by using DCHFDA method. Cell fractionation was carried out using lectin-coupled paramagnetic beads. RESULTS: CD34+ cells incubated with the lectins for 10 days gave rise to a significantly higher number of colonies compared to the controls, indicating that all four lectins possessed the capacity to protect HSPCs in vitro. Comparative analyses showed that the protective ability of BL and GL was better than AL and DL and, therefore, further experiments were carried out with them. The output of long-term culture-initiating cell (LTC-IC) and extended LTC-IC assays indicated that both BL and GL protected primitive stem cells up to 30 days. The cells incubated with BL or GL showed a substantial reduction in the ROS levels, indicating that these lectins protect the HSPCs via antioxidant mechanisms. The mononuclear cell fraction isolated by lectin-coupled beads got enriched for primitive HSPCs, as reflected in the output of phenotypic and functional assays.CONCLUSION: The data show that both BL and GL protect the primitive HSPCs in vitro and may also serve as cost-effective HSPC enrichment tools.

X-ray structure of a galactose-specific lectin from Spatholobous parviflorous

A galactose-specific seed lectin from Spatholobous parviflorus (SPL) has been purified, crystallized and its X-ray structure solved. It is the first lectin purified and crystallized from the genus Spatholobus (family: Fabaceae). The crystals belong to the space group P1, with a = 60.792 angstrom, b = 60.998 angstrom, c = 78.179 angstrom, alpha = 78.68 degrees, beta = 88.62 degrees, gamma = 104.32 degrees. The data were collected at 2.04 angstrom resolution under cryocondition, on a MAR image-plate detector system, mounted on a rotating anode X-ray generator. The coordinates of Dolichos biflorus lectin (1lu1) were successfully used for the structure solution by molecular replacement method. The primary structure of the SPL was not known earlier and it was unambiguously visible in the electron density. S. parviflorus lectin is a hetero-dimeric-tetramer with two alpha and two beta chains of 251 and 239 residues respectively. SPL has two metal ions, Ca(2+) and Mn(2+), bound to a loop region of each chain. The SPL monomers are in jelly roll form. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Estudio de cinco leguminosas en la fertilización y métodos de manejo de malezas en el cultivo de la Pitahaya (Hylocereus undatus Britt y Rose)

En el mes de junio de 1996, se estableció un experimento de campo en la empresa Frutas Tropicales Ltda, localizada en la comarca de Guanacastillo, departamento de Masaya, con el propósito de evaluar la influencia de cinco leguminosas de cobertura asociadas con el cultivo de la pitahaya (Hylocereus undatus Britt & Rose), como manejo de las malas hierbas y aporte de nutrientes a partir de la materia orgánica incorporada. Al estudio se le aplicó el diseño de bloques completos al azar con cuatro repeticiones.Los tratamientos evaluados fueron: Vigna radiata (L.) Wilczek, Mucuna pruriens (L.) DC., Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp., Canavalia ensiformis (L.) DC., Lablab purpureus (L.) Sweet y el tratamiento Testigo, el cual representa el manejo tradicional en el control de las malezas de parte del productor. Los resultados indican que el mayor peso seco acumulado lo presentó C. ensiformis al registrar 7 401 kg/ha. En tanto, V. radiata con 2 331.66 kg/ha presentó el menor valor de peso seco. En el comportamiento del peso seco de las malezas se registró mas alto en M. pruriens con 1 600 kg/ha. En tanto, L. purpureus con 545 kg/ha fue el más bajo.Para medir el aporte de nutrientes a partir de la materia orgánica se hizo un análisis de suelo previo a la siembra de las leguminosas. Un segundo y tercer análisis de suelo se efectuaron 3 meses y 11 meses después de realizado el primer análisis. En nitrógeno el mejor resultado se obtuvo en V. unguiculata al ubicarse como mejor aportador en el primer análisis con 149.60 kg/ha y segundo mejor aportador en el segundo análisis con 113.28 kg/ha.Superado levemente en este caso por el tratamiento testigo con 113.40 kg/ha. En ambos análisis el menor aportador de nitrógeno fue C. ensiformis con 122.40 kg/ha y 103.32 kg/ha para el primer y segundo análisis respectivamente.En cuanto a fósforo, V. radiata se ubicó como mejor aportador en el primer análisis con 16.80 kg/ha, mientras que en el segundo análisis se ubicó como tercero con 26.49 kg/ha, superado por C. ensiformis y V. unguiculata con 40.66 kg/ha y 31.32 kg/ha respectivamente. En cambio M. pruriens se ubicó como el aportador más bajo de fósforo con 6.60 kg/ha en el primer análisis y 3.98 kg/ha en el segundo.En relación al potasio, el mejor resultado se obtuvo en M. pruriens con 567.73 kg/ha y 694.42 hg/ha en el primer y segundo muestreo respectivamente. Mientras que L. purpureus fue el menor aportador con 384.74 kg/ha y 273.70 kg/ha en el primer y segundo muestreo respectivamente.Con respecto a la influencia sobre la dinámica de las malezas el mejor resultado se presentó en M. pruriens, al eliminar por completo la presencia de malezas a los 95 días de establecido el ensayo. Similar comportamiento tuvo C. ensiformis con la diferencia que fue en un período más prolongado. Mayor abundancia de malezas presentaron los tratamiento L. purpureus, V. radiata y V. unguiculata, en los cuales hubo necesidad de acompañarlos con controles mecánicos. Por último, se ubicó el tratamiento Testigo el cual siempre necesito de control mecánico. En relación al mayor número de brotes por planta, los tratamientos implementados no tuvieron diferencias significativas entre ellos, pero en términos numéricos los que presentaron mayor número de brotes fueron V. radiata y Testigo con 4,856 y 4,417 respectivamente, seguidos de V. unguiculata y C. ensiformis con 3,933 y 3,922 respectivamente. Por último se ubicaron M. pruriens y L. purpureus con 3,267 y 3,034 respetivamente.De acuerdo a los resultados obtenidos en cobertura de suelo, diversidad y abundancia de malezas, biomasa y aporte de nutrientes a partir de residuos vegetales, excepto en fósforo, se recomienda el uso de la leguminosa Mucuna pruriens (L.) DC. En asocio con el cultivo de la pitahaya.

Adaptación de treinta y cinco fabaceas forrajeras en sabanas con suelos vérticos y vertisoles León, Nicaragua 1985-1987

Se estudió la adaptación de fabáceas a suelos veticos y vertésoles en sabanas de crescentia alata hbk. Se establecieron dos experimentos en terreno de jícaro, s.a., km152 telica san isidro, los zarzales, león. El diseño usado fue bloques completos al azar, con 3 replica y accesiones como tratamiento. Se sembró en hileras, con parcela útil de 1 m2. Los factores evaluados fueron: germinación, cobertura, altura de plantas, daños por plagas y enfermedades, nodulacion, floración y cuando fue posible biomasa (Mv y Ms) El ensayo (1985-1986) se realizó con 10 accesiones, mejoradas y nativas, en parcelas experimentales de 3.75m2 adicionalmente se observaron 2 réplicas con siembra al voleo y sin control de male3zas; una y la otra sin rotulación de suelo. El ensayo (1987) constaba con 25 accesiones introducidas del CIAT a través del programa forrajero, DGA, madrina, con parcela experimentales de 12.5m2. El género centrosema presento excelente adaptación de especies: c.brasilianum (3 accesiones), c.pubescens (mejorada y nativa) y c.macrocaroum (1 accesión). Sobresalieron las especies dolichos 1ab-1ab, pueraria phaseoloides (ambas introducidas) y calopogonium galantoides (nativa). También están: macroptilium atropurpureum (cv. Siratro nativa), aeschynomene americana: sufrutice resistente a enfermedades y anegamiento, pero con biomasa lignificada y desmodium glabrum de buen porte y biomasa apetecible. En el transcurso experimental se observó que el suelo anegado propicia enfermedades fungosas en accesiones trepadoras; soporte mecánico disminuye ataques. Siembra al voleo en suelos rotulados y sin control de malezas es factible para establecer fabáceas de “primera”.

Program, abstracts and related documents.

The context: Soil biodiversity and sustainable agriculture; Abstracts - Theme 1: Monitoring and assessment: Bioindicators of soil health: assessment and monitoring for sustainable agriculture; Practical tools to measure soil health and their use by farmers; Biological soil quality from biomass to biodiversity - importance and resilience to management stress and disturbance; Integrated management of plant-parasitic nematodes in maize-bean cropping systems; Microbial quantitative and qualitative changes in soils under different crops and tillage management systems in Brazil; Diversity in the rhizobia associated with Phaseolus vulgaris L: in Ecuador and comparisons with Mexican bean rhizobia; Sistemas integrados ganadería-agricultura en Cuba; Soil macrofauna as bioindicator of soil quality; Biological functioning of cerrado soils; Hydrolysis of fluorescein diacetate as a soil quality indicator in different pasture systems; Soil management and soil macrofauna communities at Embrapa Soybean, Londrina, Brazil; Soil macrofauna in a 24 - year old no-tillage system in Paraná, Brazil; Invertebrate macrofauna of soils inpastures under different forms of management in the cerrado (Brazil); Soil tillage modifies the invertebrate soil macrofauna community; Soil macrofauna in various tillage and land use systems on an oxisols near Londrina, Paraná, Brazil; Interference of agricultural systems on soil macrofauna; Scarab beetle-grub holes in various tillage and crop management systems at Embrapa Soybean, Londrina, Brazil; Biological management of agroecosystems; Soil biota and nutrient dynamics through litterfall in agroforestry system in Rondônia, Amazônia, Brazil; Soil-C stocks and earthworm diversity of native and introduced pastures in Veracruz, Mexico; Theme 2 : Adaptive management: Some thoughts on the effects and implications of the transition from weedy multi-crop to wead-free mono-crop systems in Africa; Towards sustainable agriculture with no-tillage and crop rotation systems in South Brazil; Effect of termites on crusted soil rehabilitation in the Sahel; Management of macrofauna in traditional and conventional agroforestry systems from India with special reference to termites and earthworms; Adaptive management for redeveloping traditional agroecosystems; Conservation and sustainable use of soil biodiversity: learning with master nature!; Convergence of sciences: inclusive technology innovation processes for better integrated crop/vegetation, soil and biodiversity management; Potential for increasing soil biodiversity in agroecosystems; Biological nitrogen fixation and sustainability in the tropics; Theme 3: Research and innovation: Plant flavonoids and cluster roots as modifiers of soil biodiversity; The significance of biological diversity in agricultural soil for disease suppressiveness and nutrient retention; Linking above - and belowground biodiversity: a comparison of agricultural systems; Insect-pests in biologically managed oil and crops: the experience at ICRISAT; Sistemas agricolas micorrizados en Cuba; The effect of velvetbean (Mucuna pruriens) on the tropical earthworm Balanteodrilus pearsei: a management option for maize crops in the Mexican humid tropics; The potential of earthworms and organic matter quality in the rehabilitation of tropical soils; Research and innovation in biological management of soil ecosystems; Application of biodynamic methods in the Egyptian cotton sector; Theme 4: Capacity building and mainstreaming: Soil ecology and biodiversity: a quick scan of its importance for government policy in The Netherlands; Agrotechnological transfer of legume inoculants in Eastern and Southern Africa; Agricultura urbana en Cuba; Soil carbon sequestration for sustaining agricultural production and improving the environment; Conservation and sustainable management of below-ground biodiversity: the TSBF-BGBD network project; The tropical soil biology and fertility institute of CIAT (TSBF); South-South initiative for training and capacity building for the management of soil biology/biodiversity; Strategies to facilititate development and adoption of integrated resource management for sustainable production and productivity improvement; The challenge program on biological nitrogen fixation (CPBNF); Living soil training for farmers: improving knowledge and skills in soil nutrition management; Do we need an inter-governmental panel on land and soil (IPLS)? Protection and sustainable use of biodiversity of soils; Cases Studies -- Plant parasitic nematodes associated with common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) and integrated management approaches; Agrotechnological transfer of legume inoculants in Eastern and Southern Africa; Restoring soil fertility and enhancing productivity in Indian tea plantations with earthworms and organic fertilizers; Managing termites and organic resources to improve soil productivity in the Sahel; Overview and case studies on biological nitrogen fixation: perspectives and limitations; Soil biodiversity and sustainable agriculture: an overview.

Leguminous cover crops differentially affect maize yields in three contrasting soil types of Kakamega, Western Kenya

Maize production in smallholder farming systems in Kenya is largely limited by low soil fertility. As mineral fertilizer is expensive, green manuring using leguminous cover crops could be an alternative strategy for farmers to enhance farm productivity. However due to variability in soil type and crop management, the effects of green manure are likely to differ with farms. The objectives of this study were to evaluate Mucuna pruriens and Arachis pintoi on (i) biomass and nitrogen fixation (^15N natural abundance), (ii) soil carbon and nitrogen stocks and (iii) their effects on maize yields over two cropping seasons in Kakamega, Western Kenya. Mucuna at 6 weeks accumulated 1–1.3 Mg ha^{-1} of dry matter and 33–56 kg ha^{-1} nitrogen of which 70% was nitrogen derived from the atmosphere (Ndfa). Arachis after 12 months accumulated 2–2.7 Mg ha^{-1} of dry matter and 51–74 kg N ha^{-1} of which 52-63 % was from Ndfa. Soil carbon and nitrogen stocks at 0–15 cm depth were enhanced by 2-4 Mg C ha^{-1} and 0.3–1.0 Mg N ha^{-1} under Mucuna and Arachis fallow, irrespective of soil type. Maize yield increased by 0.5-2 Mg ha^{-1} in Mucuna and 0.5–3 Mg ha^{-1} in Arachis and the response was stronger on Nitisol than on Acrisol or Ferralsol. We concluded that leguminous cover crops seem promising in enhancing soil fertility and maize yields in Kenya, provided soil conditions and rainfall are suitable.