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managing leguminous trees for nitrogen release

 
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hello,

My understanding is that leguminose trees will release the most nitrogen to the soil if they are cut just as they begin flowering.
What would happen if they were pruned extensively? Would they release a lot of nitrogen in this case too?
 
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Great question, I tried to do a little research as I am not sure and there isn't a whole lot out there on the topic.

While I do not have first-hand experience, I did manage to stumble on one study from 2019 that seemed to show a relationship between pruning leguminous trees and nitrogen increase for nearby fruit trees.

I would love to hear your own results if you had the trees and the time!
 
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Always trying to keep in mind diversity among an orchard like a food forest mixed with area natives, the Redbud is something I'd like to incorporate more in the productive landscape rather than just admiring its characteristics on the woody edges.

Theres always some Autumn olive nearby them too, and if able to cut both regularly enough, it seems like they would survive on in a manageable fashion around crops/trees or any landscape for that matter.

Once I thought Honey Locust was a nitrogen fixer but apparently not - I have noticed they are vigorous though, and a section of garden near one where it's roots ventured into the nice soil, the crops were small :)


 
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To me, nitrogen-fixing is a complicated subject.

The best way to use the nitrogen-fixing from those trees is to use the trimming as green manure.

I have read that using this a a green manure is the best way to get the nitrogen-fixing.

I hope these threads will help you or others:

Bryant said, N fixers generally utilize a bacteria that forms nodules on the roots for their home and these bacteria gather the nitrogen that is pumped down to them from the leaves.
For most plants it is the leaves that do the nitrogen gathering from the air that passes through their stoma as they go through the process of respiration during daylight hours.



https://permies.com/t/38055/legumes-release-nitrogen-continuously-killed#922542

Daron said, If you plant perennial nitrogen fixing plants my understanding is that you won't get much benefit during the first year. But leaf litter, any chop and drop material, etc. will steadily build soil and increase the nitrogen level.



https://permies.com/t/77546/nitrogen-fixing-plants-work#638360
 
david higos
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Apparently according to synthropic farming, pruning sends a growth message not only  to the prunned plants, but to the nearby plants too through the release of plant growth hormone.

Following syntrophic agroforestry biomass plants (that include leguminose ones) should be prunned at the first sign of senescence, before flowering has started. And some roots will die off. (In this case as some roots die I guess nitrogen will be released into the soil in the case these pruned plants are leguminous)

I can't estimate how significant this release will be, but at least I got some explanation

https://www.echocommunity.org/resources/ae1d762e-d561-4a7e-80b3-de9ddeaa6259
 
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I have a monstrous acacia -longifolia, I believe - shading out my fruit trees. It is also threatening the neighbor's house as it is leaning over a little bit. I thought about removing limbs on the one side To make it a little bit lighter, But what else can I do with this thing?  What would you do?
Hiring tree trimmers is very expensive. I wonder if anyone would want to come trim it for the wood. In Oakland,  California.
 
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Well, that sounds like a unique problem.

Why not try rimming to see what happens
 
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Chop and drop is the name of the game.
When you prune the above ground part of a plant, it usually create an underground self-pruning of the root. This extra dose of above ground and underground plant matter will send the soil life into over drive where they will start "peeing and pooping" creating alot of "manure" for your other plants. The extra nitrogen that was stored in the legume roots will also make it way to your other plants.
 
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