Simulation of climate change and its impacts on biological nitrogen fixation in soybean in a tropical environment.

• Grant number: 24/14550-7
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: September 01, 2024
• End date: August 31, 2025
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Agronomy - Agricultural Meteorology
• Principal Investigator: Fabio Ricardo Marin
• Grantee: Clara Maria de Souza Brandão Fernandes
• Host Institution: Escola Superior de Agricultura Luiz de Queiroz (ESALQ). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Piracicaba , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 21/10573-4 - Center for Carbon Research in Tropical Agriculture (CCARBON), AP.CEPID

Abstract

Soybean production is crucial to meet the growing global demand for food and products, especially in Brazil, which accounts for more than 30% of the world's production. However, soybean productivity is limited by nitrogen, an essential element. Biological nitrogen fixation (BNF) plays a fundamental role in supplementing nitrogen for soybeans, reducing the dependence on chemical fertilizers. Nevertheless, climate change and management factors can affect BNF efficiency, making it crucial to understand how these factors influence soybean production. The CROPGRO-Soybean simulation model is a valuable tool for predicting BNF efficiency under different factors, but it still needs to be evaluated for Brazilian conditions. This study aims to assess whether the CROPGRO-Soybean model is effective in predicting BNF variables in tropical conditions and subsequently evaluate the impact of climate change on the BNF process. A field experiment will be conducted to collect data on the dry mass of shoots and nodules, total nitrogen content in the plant, and ureide nitrogen content, and compare these values with the simulated results from the model. It is expected that this study will provide results that validate the use of the CROPGRO-Soybean model as a tool for efficient BNF management strategies for soybean cultivation in Brazil.