The influence of nitrate supply on nitrogen fixation during growth of the field bean Vicia faba in sand |
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Authors: | D G HILL-COTTINGHAM C P LLOYD-JONES |
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Institution: | Long Ashton Research Station, Long Ashton, Bristol. BS18 9AF, England |
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Abstract: | Field bean (Vicia faba L.) cv. Maris Bead seeds were inoculated with Rhizobium Catalogue No. 1001, supplied by Rothamsted Experimental Station and grown in sand culture supplied with 15N-labelled nitrate at two concentrations. Plants were sampled at intervals throughout their growth for 15N and total N analysis. The rate of nitrate uptake was almost uniform up to pod-fill and was proportional to the nitrate concentration. Nodule weight was slightly depressed by the larger nitrate concentration at all samplings, and there was a corresponding reduction in the amount of atmospheric nitrogen fixed. However, at harvest the bean seeds from plants given most nitrate contained slightly more total N, as the enhanced nitrate uptake outweighed the reduction in fixation. |
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Keywords: | Vicia faba 15NO3 nitrogen fixation |
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