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ABSTRACT The objective of this study was to evaluate, through multivariate data analysis, which tree legume residues have the best fertilizer potential for agricultural crops in the semi-arid region of northeastern Brazil. The experiment was conducted in pots, in a randomized block design, with seven treatments and four replicates. Treatments consisted of residues of Sabiá, Jurema Preta and Gliricidia, besides two parts of the plant: leaves and leaves + branches. The pots were filled with 8.0 dm3 of soil and the residues were added in the form of green mass, corresponding to 73.0 g of dry mass per pot. Maize seeds were sown and, at 65 days after addition of the residues, soil chemical attributes, growth and nutrient contents in the plants were evaluated. The data were studied through principal component analysis, clustering analysis, canonical discriminant function analysis and means comparison test from canonical variable 1. Gliricidia residues positively influenced soil K and Mg contents, as well as height, stem diameter, number of leaves and leaf contents of P, N and Mg in maize plants. These residues showed greater dissimilarity and separation compared to the control treatment and led to statistically higher means compared to the other treatments. Jurema Preta leaves positively influenced soil Ca, N and TOC, as well as leaf contents of K and Ca and total dry mass of maize. Multivariate statistical analysis made it possible to identify distinct potentials among legume residues for use as fertilizer in maize crop, and Gliricidia is the species with highest potential.