From comparison of nodulated and nonnodulated isolines, it was estimated that nodulated plants attained 81 and 71% of total-plant (above ground) N from uptake of soil N in 1981 and 1982, respectively. These data, along with visibly greener leaves of nodulated plants, led us to assume that nonnodulated plants were under a moderate N stress relative to nodulated plants. Nonnodulated plants accumulated less total-plant N and partitioned less dry matter and N to the pods, compared with nodulated plants. This occurred even though net photosynthesis, as estimated by rate and amount of dry matter accumulation, was the same for both nonnodulated and nodulated plants. Rate of dry matter and reduced-N accumulation in pods was less for nonnodulated than for nodulated plants while duration of podfill was similar for both isolines. From these data we concluded that moderate N stress affected partitioning of photosynthate rather than net photosynthesis, and that N played a role in translocation of photosynthate to the pods. Total plants (above-ground portion) and pods of both nodulated and nonnodulated plants accumulated similar amounts of phosphorus, which indicated that phosphorus and N accumulation were independent.

Remobilization of nitrogen and phosphorus from vegetation to pods preceded dry matter remobilization. It appeared that either more nitrogen accumulation prior to podfill, or continued nitrogen assimilation during podfill would increase nitrogen and dry matter partitioning to pods, but that increasing photosynthesis without concomitantly increasing nitrogen input may not necessarily result in enhanced seed production.