Nitrogen fixation of Sesbania rostrata: Contribution of stem nodules to nitrogen acquisition

Abstract

Nitrogen contents, nodule numbers, and nodule dry weights of 6-week-oId Sesbania rostrata plants grown in sand culture with only root nodules, only stem nodules or with both were compared and the root nodules were found to contribute to nitrogen acquisition more significantly than the stem nodules. Similar findings were obtained in ¹⁵N₂-fixing experiments. An 8-week-old plant with both stem and root nodules fixed 1.50 mg nitrogen in a 12 h light period, while the fixation decreased to 1.15 mg nitrogen after the removal of the stem nodules, suggesting that root nodules played major role in nitrogen fixation. However, acetylene-reducing activities per nodule dry weight were higher in the stem nodules. Under flooding conditions, the aerenchyma tissues contributed to about 40% of N₂ transport to root nodules, and 60% was supplied through stem.     

Straw management, crop rotation, and nitrogen source effect on wheat grain yield and nitrogen use efficiency

Nitrogen fertilizer management from different sources and annual crop rotations are important components of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) production systems, especially where air and soil quality issues have prompted a search for alternatives to wheat straw burning. This study examined the effects of two different wheat straw management options (burning and incorporation by tillage), three crop rotations [wheat-sesbania (Sesbania spp.), wheat–maize (Zea mays L.), and wheat-clean fallow] and three N sources (urea, chicken manure, and urea plus chicken manure) on wheat grain yield and N use efficiency. The experiment was conducted as split–split plot treatment arrangement with three replications for eight wheat cropping seasons in the state of Sonora, Mexico. Results indicated that both wheat grain yield and N use efficiency were higher with burning than incorporation of wheat straw and with fertilization with urea or urea plus chicken manure than chicken manure alone. As shown by the crop rotation-by-straw management interaction, planting sesbania following incorporation of the straw by tillage produced comparable grain yields to straw burning treatment. In contrast, wheat in annual rotation with maize produced the lowest wheat grain yield and N use efficiency irrespective of the wheat straw management and N source applied.     

孟加拉无机肥料对几种农林作物生物固氮和种苗生长的影响(英文)

比较了不同浓度无机肥料(尿素和重过磷酸钙)对四种农林作物(楹树、雨豆树、相思树和印度田菁)生物固氮和种苗生长的影响。种子萌发一个月后利用不同浓度肥料(尿素:40kg·hm-2,80kg·hm-2;重过磷酸钙:40kg·hm-2,80kg·hm-2;(尿素 重过磷酸钙)40kg·hm-2和(尿素 重过磷酸钙)80kg·hm-2)处理种苗。结果表明:中等浓度无机肥料促进了种苗的生长,但较高浓度无机肥料也不利于种苗的生长。当施加尿素时根瘤菌的数量大小明显受抑制,但随着增加磷肥(重过磷酸钙)根瘤菌的数量大小增加。本研究有助于农业人员利用无机肥料改善土壤提高农林作物的生物固氮和种苗生长。图2表6参33。     

Effect of wheat,legume and legume enriched wheat residue and nitrogen application on soil fertility under rice-wheat cropping system

The field experiments were conducted for two crop years of 1997?–?98 and 1998?–?99 at the Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi to study the effect of wheat, legume and legume enriched wheat residue (WR) on soil fertility under the rice-wheat cropping system. A rice-wheat cropping system without incorporation of residue depleted organic C over initial level by 0.061%, kjeldahl-N by 0.012%, available P by 0.7?kg ha^???1 and available K by 36?kg ha^???1, whereas incorporation of Sesbania green manure (SGM), mungbean residue (MBR), SGM?+?WR and MBR?+?WR increased organic C over the initial level by 0.071, 0.100, 0.163 and 0.133%, respectively, kjeldahl-N by 0.001, 0.004, 0.001 and 0.005% respectively, available P by 2.7, 5.0, 8.5 and 3.2?kg ha^???1, respectively and available K by 35, 5, 92 and 12?kg ha^???1, respectively in 2 years. As compared with no residue control, incorporation of WR increased organic C by 0.036?–?0.102%, kjeldahl-N by 0.002?–?0.007% and available K by 23?–?45?kg ha^?1, whereas incorporation of SGM and MBR increased organic C by 0.082?–?0.132 and 0.103?–?0.161%, respectively, kjeldahl-N by 0.009?–?0.023 and 0.005?–?0.013%, respectively and available K by 5?–?71 and 4?–?45?kg ha^???1, respectively. Incorporation of WR with SGM and MBR was more effective and increased organic C by 0.121?–?0.224 and 0.125?–?0.194%, respectively, kjeldahl-N by 0.005?–?0.029 and 0.010?–?0.021%, respectively and available K content by 23?–?128 and 11?–?116?kg ha^???1. Nitrogen application to rice also increased organic C, kjeldahl-N, available P and available K content in soil and also increased effects of crop residues. Crop residues had no significant effect on available P content in soil. Incorporation of WR with SGM and MBR with adequate fertilizer-N is, thus, recommended for building up organic C, kjeldahl-N and available K content in soil.     

Physiological Changes in Sesbania Species to Reducing Light Intensities

Sesbania sesban and S. grandiflora were studied for their physiological characters under different light intensities (100, 75, 50 and 25 %) in a natural environment for 4 months. Rate of photosynthesis (PN) and stomatal conductance (CS) significantly decreased with decreasing light intensities and with intensity reduced to half the full sun light under high shading i.e. at 25 % light intensity, whereas the intercellular CO₂ concentration increased with decreasing light intensities in both the species. The reduction in PN was more in S. grandiflora than S. sesban. S. sesban maintained higher carboxylation efficiency under shade condition as compared to S. grandiflora. Rate of transpiration and water use efficiency (PN/TR) decreased while leaf diffusion resistance increased significantly with decreasing light intensities. Total chlorophyll content was maximal under 50 % light intensity in both plant species. Accumulation of chl b increased but chl a decreases under low light intensities. The higher accumulation of chl b in S. sesban under shade predicted its shade adaptability. The total protein content and NRA reduced under low light intensities. The overall rate of photosynthesis, stomatal conductance, carboxylation efficiency and water-use efficiency were higher in S. sesban as compared to S. grandiflora , indicating its better adaptability under shade condition and that it may be suitable to grow under stress in agroforestry systems in semi-arid tropics.     

Agroforestry and forestry on the Cape Verde Islands

The geography, socio-economy, climate and agriculture of the Cape Verde Islands are introduced. Forestry and agroforestry provenance trials are described for coastal and inland areas in the semi-arid climate of Cape Verde. Sesbania sesban var. nubica showed promise as a drought tolerant, fast growing agroforestry species and Acacia bivenosa is recommended for soil stabilisation of exposed coastal areas. At a saline coastal site Atriplex lentiformis and A.halimus were the fastest growing of seven Atriplex species.     

Alley cropping Sesbania sesban (L) Merill with food crops in the highland region of Rwanda

Food production in the densely populated Rwandan highlands is impeded by soil erosion and loss in fertility. Alley cropping leguminous shrubs with food crops on contours is purported to minimize the problem and to provide wood and forage. This study reports the effect of Sesbania prunings plus moderate levels of N and P on bean (Phaseolus sp) and maize (Zea mays) yields in alley cropping. Experimental design was a randomized complete block with split-split plots. Main plots were alley width: 2, 4, 6 and 8 m. Phosphorus (P) at 0, 30 and 60 kg P₂O₅/ha occupied the subplot and nitrogen (N) at 0, 30 and 60 kg/ha were assigned at the sub-sub plot level. No P was applied to maize during the second cropping season. Crop yield in kg/ha included the land space taken by hedgerows. Bean yield in 6 m alleys (1100 kg/ha) was about twice that in 2 m alleys (500 kg/ha). Bean responded to N and P. Optimum alley width and N for bean yield were 6 m and 30 kg/ha, respectively. Cuttings from alley hedgerows provided stakes for climbing beans. Maize responded to N but not to residual P. The highest maize yield came from 8 m alleys with 40 kg/ha, but yields from 8 and 6 m alleys with the same N treatment were not significantly different. Maize plants in middle rows were significantly taller than plants in rows adjacent to hedgerows. Maize rust development showed significant alley width and row position effect. There were significantly fewer uredinia in the Sebania alleys relative to the control plots without shrub hedgerows. Rust development on maize in middle rows was significantly greater than development in border rows.     

The relation between biomass yield and linear measures of growth in Sesbania sesban in western Kenya

Various linear measurements were made on 115 provenances of Sesbania sesban var. nubica to establish their relationships with woody and leafy biomass yields of the trees after a year's undisturbed growth. Data were subjected to simple and multiple linear regression analyses. There were significant (P < 0.001) correlations in most cases but particularly so with leafy and total biomass where over 50% of the variations were accounted for by their regression on stem diameter at knee height (DKH). When data for dependent variables were logarithmically transformed, better regression coefficients (over 60%) were obtained for stem diameter at breast height (DBH) and DKH.     

三种豆科绿肥作物茎和叶角质层蜡质化学组成分析

植物角质层蜡质是一类覆盖于植物表层的疏水有机化合物,在保护植物免受生物与非生物逆境胁迫中发挥着重要作用。为了更好地了解和认识角质层蜡质在夏季绿肥作物抗逆性中的作用,选择柽麻(Crotalariajuncea)、田菁(Sesbania cannabina)和竹豆(Phaseolus calcaratus) 3种夏季豆科绿肥作物,鉴定茎和叶蜡质组分,并分析蜡质总量、各组分含量及碳链分布特征。共鉴定出8类化合物,包括脂肪酸、初级醇、醛、烷烃、烷基酯、二醇、萜类和固醇类化合物,其中前4种以同系物形式存在且为所有植物茎和叶共有成分(柽麻茎中未检出脂肪酸),说明烷合成和醇合成途径是主要的2种蜡质合成途径。田菁茎中鉴定出二醇化合物,其结构初步解析为1,18-30烷醇和1,16-30烷醇。3种绿肥作物茎和叶蜡质总量存在显著种间及部位差异,其中柽麻茎蜡质总含量为16.33μgcm^-2,显著高于田菁茎(6.45μg cm^-2)和竹豆茎(0.72μg cm^-2)。就茎和叶比较,柽麻茎显著高于叶片,其他2种植物茎和叶之间无显著差异。柽麻茎蜡质中,烷烃为优势成分,占蜡质总量的57.38%;叶片以初级醇为优势成分,占蜡质总量的50.12%。田菁茎、叶蜡质中的优势成分均为初级醇,分别占总蜡质的30.12%和71.21%。竹豆茎、叶蜡质中的优势成分均为烷烃,分别占总蜡质的40.79%和39.27%。各组分优势化合物的碳链长度在不同物种、不同部位也存在一定差异,说明参与蜡质合成的基因在物种、器官间有所不同。这些结果为今后从分子水平上揭示角质层蜡质参与夏季绿肥作物抗逆机制提供了理论基础。     

Effect of green manuring,blue-green algae and neem-cake-coated urea on wetland rice (Oryza sativa L.)

Summary A field trial was set up to examine the effect of green manuring, blue-green algae, and neem-cake-coated urea on a rice crop. Summer green manuring using Sesbania aculeata increased the crop yield. Inoculation of blue-green algae increased the rice grain yield when 60 kg N ha^-1 was applied as prilled urea, but the increase in grain yield was greater when 60 kg N ha^-1 was applied as neem-cake-coated urea. The results of the present study show that applications of green manure, neem-cake-coated urea, and blue-green algae are complementary and that the three treatments can be used together in the rice ecosystem. The green manure and the fertilizer treatments had no effect on the algal flora of the soil.