The crucial role of cobalt in the nutrition of legumes and soybeans

1. INTRODUCTION

The legumes and soybeans, They have a function of improving soil fertility together with the association of atmospheric nitrogen-fixing bacteria (Ramírez-Bahena et al., 2016) and therefore serve as an important tool in programs crop rotation correlated with the sustainability which indicates and proclaims the 2030 agenda European.

The commercial interest of this crop family lies mainly in its high protein content adapted for animal feed (Rubio and Molina, 2016) and human feed, with proven benefits (Arnoldi et al., 2015; Delgado-Andrade et al., 2016).

2. SOCIO-ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE AT THE GLOBAL AND NATIONAL LEVEL

Regarding their socioeconomic positioning, they are among the most produced crops, along with cereals.

2.1. WORLD

By centralizing the information received from the last campaign, we can summarize:

• Increase of a 9,6% of world production, going from 369.7 to 405.3 Mt.
• Estimates for South American harvests show an increase of 4,5% for Brazil, which would reach 163 Mt, while, for Argentina an increase of 9 is projected2,0% with 48,0 Mt.
• Paraguay would increase its production by 13,6% according to the 2022/23 campaign (8,8 Mt), reaching a harvest of 10 Mt, which would return to the levels that were usual until the cycle 2020/21.
• In this new report, it is estimated that United States a harvest of 117,0 Mt, which refers to an increase of only 0,6% compared to the 2022/23 cycle, when they were reached at that time 116,4 Mt.
• The export activity would be headed by Brazil with 96,5 Mt, growing a 2,7% compared to the previous cycle (94,0 Mt), while, United States would reach an export volume of 50,3 Mt, a figure that represents a decrease of 6,6% compared to last harvest (53,9 Mt).
• To Argentina exports are projected by 4,6 Mt, which would mean an increase of 21,1% regarding the campaign 2022/23 (3,8 Mt).
• China mind to 99 Mt, a volume similar to that of the previous campaign.
• Ending stocks of the oilseed would increase by 17,6% at a global level, reaching 121,0 Mt and would be supported by increases in oil stocks United States, Argentina and Brazil.

2.2. NATIONAL

The soy It is not a typical Spanish crop, gaining an upward trend and relevance in recent years, caused mainly by its use in the industry animal feed and oil production. This crop, in the absence of annual updates, has a cultivation area of ​​around 1.450 has, of which 98.2% are irrigated.

If we focus on the last decade, the soybean area has increased significantly with increases greater than 107.4%, having increasing tendencies of a 45.7% on average for every five years.

This upward trend is due to the possible vision as an alternative to other traditional crops with higher water consumption such as beetroot or potato, together with the need for less bioaccumulative fertilizer, presenting itself as a self-fertilizing plant in variables of macroelements.

Given the variety of benefits it offers, soybeans are considered an alternative crop for farmers. This crop requires less water compared to beets or potatoes. Added to this are the advantages related to environmental sustainability. Soybeans use less fertilizer, as they are a plant with a low yield. self-fertilizer, helps reduce soil erosion and facilitates crop rotation.

Aragon with a surface area close to 540 has It is the community with the greatest involvement in soybean cultivation at the national level, followed by Extremadura with 516 hectares, Castile and León with 196 ha and Catalonia finally counting some 144, due to climate adaptation.

3. HOW TO BOOST THE PRODUCTION PERFORMANCE OF SOYBEAN AND LEGUMES BASED ON THEIR NUTRITION. IMPORTANCE OF COBALT IN LEGUME FERTILIZATION.

Cobalt is directly involved in the process of fixation symbiotic and atmospheric nitrogen, this process being notable and pronounced in legumes because these processes are essential for root nodulation.

Making a clarification, we will define the Rhizobia such as bacteria present in these root nodules, which are unable to fix nitrogen on their own independently, just as it happens with cultivation, the interaction between both being what results in said fixation.

These types of bacteria require oxygenation for this purpose, but at the same time, nitrogenase, the enzyme that catalyzes the nitrogen fixation reaction, is inactivated by oxygen.

To control the oxygen concentrations present inside the root nodules, it is necessary to produce

Rhizobia are bacteria present in the root nodules of legumes. They do not independently fix nitrogen as occurs in the plant, therefore, the interaction between the two is the cause of said fixation. This type of bacteria requires oxygen to produce said fixation, but on the other hand, nitrogenase, the enzyme that catalyzes the main reaction of nitrogen fixation, is inactivated by oxygen. Leghemoglobin is a regulatory protein present in that controls the levels of oxygen concentration inside the root nodule (García, 2011).

Cobalt is a component of the structure of vitamin B12, involved in the synthesis of said protein, thereby indirectly influencing the correct activity of the plant nodules. (Golo et al., 2009).

Contributing cobalt implies a increased growth of rhizobia and therefore its lack or low levels significantly affect the performance of this family of crops.

In general, cobalt participates in oxidation-reduction processes, photosynthetic rate, production of nucleic acids, carbohydrates, fats, sugars, ascorbic acid, activation of nitrate reductases and accelerates the development of vegetative organs, favoring flowering processes.

The importance of this microelement It does not stop here, since in an indirect way it has also been shown that correct balanced levels in legumes improve the assimilation of sulfur, potassium, Phosphorus y Magnesium directly from the soil and limits the assimilation of heavy metals.

In the face of all this, a Cobalt deficiency weakens physiological and biological processes, resulting in growth delays associated with the activity of nitrogen-fixing rhizobia., which could lead to lower than desired performance.

From Cultifort SL we work to offer nutritional programs adapted by crop and phenology, having in its portfolio the possibility of offering adapted formulations with this microelement or beneficial bacteria.