The biological nitrogen fixation (BNF) of Desmanthus pernambucanus (pigeon bundleflower), Macroptilium martii and M. lathyroides (wild bushbean), grown in soils from the semiarid region of Paraíba, manured or not, was evaluated in a pot experiment. Nodule number and biomass, N content and the proportions of fixed N (%Ndfa) were estimated, using the natural abundance methodology and buffel grass as a reference plant. The legume plants nodulated abundantly in all three soils, manured or not, except when grown in Fluvic Neosol […]