Nitrogen is an essential nutrient for the production of amino acids, proteins, nucleic acids, etc., and trees require an adequate annual supply for proper growth and productivity. Nitrogen is primarily absorbed through fine roots as either ammonium or nitrate.
Nitrogen is an element responsible for lush green plant growth, but most plants aren’t able to use the nitrogen gas in Earth’s atmosphere. Non-organic farmers and gardeners use chemical nitrogen fertilizer to keep crops thriving, but this synthetic fertilizer can pose a threat to the environment. It pollutes our waterways, threatening our drinking water supply, fish and other wildlife. Biological nitrogen fixation through plants helps crops flourish without introducing pollutants to the environment.
Nitrogen-fixing plants are those whose roots are colonized by certain bacteria that extract nitrogen from the air and convert or “fix” it into a form required for their growth. The symbiotic bacteria, called Rhizobia, form nodules in the root systems, producing nitrogen compounds that help the plant to grow.
Environmental Protection: Reduces the need for chemical fertilizers, which can harm ecosystems and water supplies.
Soil Enrichment: Nitrogen-fixing plants increase soil fertility through a symbiotic relationship with bacteria that convert atmospheric nitrogen into a usable form. This added nitrogen also enhances the growth of neighboring plants and improves overall soil health.
Sustainable Agriculture: Promotes eco-friendly farming practices that maintain soil health and productivity over time.
Intercrop the following Nitrogen Fixing Trees before even starting your Tree Plantation.
- Akleng parang (Albizia procera)
- Akle (Albizia acle)
- Banuyo (Wallaceodendron celebicum)
- Ipil (Intsia bijuga) not the invasive ipil-ipil
- Anabiong (Trema orientalis)
- Ahern’s balok (Millettia ahernii)
- Alibangbang [souring agent] (Piliostigma malabaricum)
- Narra (Pterocarpus indicus)
- Upang (Parkia speciosa)
- Kupang (Parkia javanica)
- Kariskis (Albizia lebbekoides)
- Rarang (Erythrina subumbrans)
- Siar (Peltophorum pterocarpum)
- Tindalo (Afzelia rhomboidea)
- Smaller native N2-fixing plants:
- Tinatinaan/Balabalatong (Indigofera zollingeriana)
- Malabalatong (Flemingia macrophylla)
- Alibangbang puti/Bambang (Bauhinia acuminata) “dwarf white orchid”