Publication Date
1989
Description
Most tropical pastures are fertilized with N, primarily due to the response of grasses which form its major component. Many studies (e.g. Mahon, 1983) report the adverse effects of applied N on nodulation and N fixation of pasture legumes. Thus, with fertilizer N, the role of the legume is subdued due to reductions in N fixation and competitive dominance of the grasses (Atkins, 1984). Nodulation in tropical legumes begin after root development, and is expidited by enhancing the early growth of the legume. Due to the occurrence of N deficiency termed « N hunger» during early growth of legumes (Atkins, 1984), there is a requirement for some added N for successful nodulation of tropical legumes. Thus, a study was carried out to determine the effect of different rates of fertilizer N on nodulation and plant N content of three pasture legumes Pueraria phaseoloides, macroptilium atropurpureum (siratro) and Desmodium intortum. The basis of their selection was their common occurrence in tropical pastures and reported plant N content of2.3 %, 2.8 % and 3.4 % (Bogdan, 1977) respectively.
Citation
Sangakkara, U R. and Attanayake, K B., "Relationship Between Fertilizer Nitrogen and Nodulation of Tropical Legumes" (2025). IGC Proceedings (1989-2023). 14.
https://uknowledge.uky.edu/igc/1989/session2/14
Included in
Agricultural Science Commons, Agronomy and Crop Sciences Commons, Plant Biology Commons, Plant Pathology Commons, Soil Science Commons, Weed Science Commons
Relationship Between Fertilizer Nitrogen and Nodulation of Tropical Legumes
Most tropical pastures are fertilized with N, primarily due to the response of grasses which form its major component. Many studies (e.g. Mahon, 1983) report the adverse effects of applied N on nodulation and N fixation of pasture legumes. Thus, with fertilizer N, the role of the legume is subdued due to reductions in N fixation and competitive dominance of the grasses (Atkins, 1984). Nodulation in tropical legumes begin after root development, and is expidited by enhancing the early growth of the legume. Due to the occurrence of N deficiency termed « N hunger» during early growth of legumes (Atkins, 1984), there is a requirement for some added N for successful nodulation of tropical legumes. Thus, a study was carried out to determine the effect of different rates of fertilizer N on nodulation and plant N content of three pasture legumes Pueraria phaseoloides, macroptilium atropurpureum (siratro) and Desmodium intortum. The basis of their selection was their common occurrence in tropical pastures and reported plant N content of2.3 %, 2.8 % and 3.4 % (Bogdan, 1977) respectively.
