Photosynthesis,water-use efficiency and δ<Superscript>13</Superscript>C of five cowpea genotypes grown in mixed culture and at different densities with sorghum

A field experiment involving two planting densities (83,333 and 166,666 plants per ha), two cropping systems (monoculture and mixed culture) and five cowpea [Vigna unguiculata L. (Walp.)] genotypes was conducted at Nietvoorbij (33°54S, 18°14E), Stellenbosch, South Africa, to select cowpea material with superior growth and water-use efficiency (WUE). The results showed significantly higher photosynthetic rates, stomatal conductance and transpiration in leaves of plants at low density and in monoculture due to greater chlorophyll (Chl) levels relative to those at high density and in mixed culture. As a result, C concentration in leaves and the amount of C, P, K, Ca, Mg, Fe, Cu, Zn, Mn, and B accumulated in shoots at low density and under monoculture were also much higher. Even though no marked differences in photosynthetic rates were found between and among the five cowpea genotypes, leaf C concentration and shoot C, P, K, Ca, Mg, Fe, Cu, Zn, Mn, and B contents differed considerably, with Sanzie exhibiting the highest C concentration and C, P, K, Ca, Mg, Fe, Cu, Zn, Mn, and B contents in shoots, followed by Bensogla and Omondaw, while ITH98-46 and TVu1509 had the lowest shoot concentration and contents of C, P, K, Ca, Mg, Fe, Cu, Zn, Mn, and B. WUE (calculated as photosynthate produced per unit water molecule transpired) was significantly greater in plants at low density and monoculture relative to those at high density and in mixed culture. Isotopic analysis revealed significant differences in δ¹³C values of sorghum [Sorghum bicolor L. (Moench.)] and cowpea, with higher δ¹³C values being obtained for plants at low density and in monoculture relative to those at high density or in mixed culture. The five cowpea genotypes also showed significant differences in δ¹³C values, with Sanzie exhibiting the most negative value (i.e. low WUE) and ITH98-46, the least negative δ¹³C value (i.e. high WUE). Whether measured isotopically or from gas-exchange studies, sorghum (a C₄ species) exhibited much higher WUE relative to cowpea (a C₃ species). Both correlation and regression analyses revealed a positive relationship between WUE from gas-exchange studies and δ¹³C values from isotopic analysis of cowpea and sorghum shoots.     

Measurement of N2 fixation in 30 cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L. Walp.) genotypes under field conditions in Ghana, using the15N natural abundance technique

In 2005 and 2006, 30 and 15 cowpea genotypes were respectively evaluated for plant growth and symbiotic performance at Manga in Northern Ghana, in order to identify N₂-fixing potential of these cowpea genotypes as source of N for cropping systems. The results showed differences in biomass production by the 30 or 15 cowpea genotypes. In 2005, cultivars Fahari, Mchanganyiko, IT97K-499-39, IT93K-2045-29 and IT84S-2246 produced the most shoot biomass, while Apagbaala, Brown Eye, ITH98-46, Vita 7 and Iron Grey produced the least. Of the 15 genotypes tested in 2006, cv. TVu11424 produced the largest amount of biomass, and ITH98-46, the least. Isotopic analysis of¹⁵N in plant parts also revealed significant differences in δ¹⁵N of the cowpea genotypes studied. As a result, the percent N derived from fixation (% Ndfa) also differed among the cowpea genotypes tested in 2005, with only 5 out of the 30 cultivars obtaining over 50% of their N from symbiotic fixation. Whether expressed as mg N.plant^?1 or kg N.ha^?1, the levels of N₂ fixation by the cowpea genotypes varied considerably during 2005 and 2006, with values of N contribution ranging from 14.1 kg N.ha^?1 by cv. TVu1509 to 157.0 kg N.ha^?1 by IT84S-2246 in 2005. The amounts of N-fixed in 2006 ranged from 16.7 kg N.ha^?1 by cv. ITH98-46 to 171.2 kg N.ha^?1 by TVu11424, clearly indicating genotypic differences in symbiotic N yield. Re-evaluating 15 out of the 30 cowpea genotypes for N₂ fixation in 2006, revealed higher % Ndfa values (>50%) in all (15 cowpea genotypes) relative to those tested in 2005, indicating greater dependence on N₂ fixation for their N nutrition even though, the actual amounts of fixed-N were lower in 2006. This was due, in part, to reduced plant biomass as a result of very late sampling in 2006, close to physiological maturity (72 DAP in 2006 vs. 46 DAP in 2005) when considerable leaf matter was lost. The amount of N-fixed in 2006 can therefore be considered as being under-estimated.     

N2 fixation in cowpea plants grown in farmers’ fields in the Upper West Region of Ghana, measured using15N natural abundance

Few studies have assessed the levels of symbiotic N nutrition in legumes grown by farmers in Africa. In this study, the shoots of cowpea plants were sampled from 63 farms in 12 villages within 5 districts of the Upper West Region of Ghana, and assessed for growth and symbiotic N nutrition. The data revealed considerable differences in cowpea plant density per m², plant growth,¹⁵N natural abundance (δ¹⁵N), %Ndfa, and N-fixed among different farms under one village, and between villages under the same district, and between districts in the Upper West Region. In farms where there were fewer cowpea plants per m², plant growth was better and dry matter yield per plant significantly greater, leading to strong variations in δ¹⁵N values. Except for four farms at Bamahu which had cowpea shoot Ndfa values of 12.1%, 30.0%, 36.5% and 46.6%, one farm at Babile with Ndfa value of 58.1%, and three farms at Silbelle with Ndfa values of 56.8%, 57.9% and 68.7%, the remaining 55 out of the 63 farms studied showed high shoot Ndfa values, ranging from 70.6% to 99.7%, which clearly indicates that cowpea cultivated by farmers in the Upper West Region of Ghana meet a large proportion of their N requirements from symbiotic fixation. At the district level, isotopic analysis showed that, on average, the¹⁵N natural abundance values (%0) of cowpea shoots were ?0.496±0.04 for Jirapa, ?0.083±0.06 for Nadowli, 0.368±0.08 for Lawra, J.333±0.29 for Wa and 0.365±0.09 for Sissala district. Estimates of the legume’s N derived from fixation were 66.3% for Wa district, 89.9% for Nadowli, 79.4% for Lawra, 78.9% for Sissala and 80.9% for Jirapa district. The amount of N-fixed ranged from 402.3 mg.plant^?1 for Nadowli, 176.5 mg.plant^?1 for Wa, 235.4 mg.plant^?1 for Sissala, 179.0 mg.plant^?1 for Lawra to 249.2 mg.plane^?1 for the Jirapa district. Expressed on per-hectare basis using cowpea density per m², the total amount of N-fixed was around 16.6 kg ha^?1 in the Nadowli district, 19.1 kg ha^?1 in Wa, 23.0 kg ha^?1 in Sissala, 2J.1 kg ha^?1 in Lawra and 17.6 kg ha^?1 in the Jirapa district. Averaged across all 5 districts, N-fixed by cowpea was about 19.5 kg ha^?1 in the Upper West Region of Ghana. These data suggest that, increasing N₂ fixation in fanners’ fields in Ghana would require optimization of cowpea plant density rather than biological manipulation of the symbiotic process (as %Ndfa values were generally very high).     

黄土塬区不同品种玉米间作群体生长特征的动态变化

不同玉米品种间作,品种间的竞争对群体结构和产量可能有促进作用.为了明确不同密度下品种间作对不同生育期群体生长特征的影响,以及在不同生育期的变化规律,选用郑单958和沈单16两个不同株型的玉米品种在中、高两种密度条件下进行隔行间作田间试验.研究结果表明:不同密度间作群体叶面积指数(Leaf Area Index,LAI)显著增加,同密度不同品种间作LAI在生育后期显著增加,有利于形成合理的冠层结构以获得更多的光照;中等密度下品种间作单株叶面积较单作显著增加,而高密度间作显著降低了单株叶面积;中等密度下,品种间作地上部干物质积累量显著增加,郑单958尤为突出,但高密度间作时的增加幅度较小,这与高密度下株高、茎粗相对减小有关.品种株高、茎粗随间作密度的增加而有所增加,对间作竞争的响应与品种特性密切相关;在不同生育期,郑单958和沈单16号表现不同的生长规律,前者在整个营养生长过程中对间作竞争的响应明显、持续和稳定,而进入生殖期后,间作的生长优势逐渐消失;后者在营养生长期干物质积累量大,但持续时间较短,表现出较弱的竞争性.品种间作可有效改善群体冠层结构,增加群体物质生产力,更好的为增产鉴定基础.     

Genotype-environment interactions in determining fitness in dense,artificial populations of Phlox drummondii

Summary Survivorship and growth of individuals of the annual plant Phlox drummondii were examined in artificial, density-stressed populations composed of five genetically differentiated varieties sown in monocultures and in five pairwise mixtures. All experiments were replicated under two treatments of nutrient availability.Varieties differed significantly in competitive ability, and relative competitive success was shown to be highly habitat (treatment) dependent. In 19 of 20 mixed populations, the relative rankings of pairs of competitors were consistent with a priori expectations based on the morphological and/or historical differences between seed sources, but were not predictable from relative tolerances to density stress in monoculture.Estimated selection coefficients based on relative competitive abilities ranged from 0.04 to 0.94. Despite these large fitness differences among competing varieties, most of the variance in the absolute fitness of individuals resided within varieties. This variation may be mostly environmental.In the high nutrient treatment, where competition for light was most intense, variation in individual plant size was lower in mixed culture as compared to monocultures. Genetic variation for competitive ability may actually lead to greater size uniformity among survivors by promoting an early initiation of thinning, thereby reducing the density stress on survivors.     

Symbiotic functioning and bradyrhizobial biodiversity of cowpea (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Vigna unguiculata</Emphasis>L. Walp.) in Africa

Background  

Cowpea is the most important food grain legume in Sub-Saharan Africa. However, no study has so far assessed rhizobial biodiversity and/or nodule functioning in relation to strain IGS types at the continent level. In this study, 9 cowpea genotypes were planted in field experiments in Botswana, South Africa and Ghana with the aim of i) trapping indigenous cowpea root-nodule bacteria (cowpea "rhizobia") in the 3 countries for isolation, molecular characterisation using PCR-RFLP analysis, and sequencing of the 16S - 23S rDNA IGS gene, ii) quantifying N-fixed in the cowpea genotypes using the ¹⁵N natural abundance technique, and iii) relating the levels of nodule functioning (i.e. N-fixed) to the IGS types found inside nodules.     

Grain yield of common bean (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Phaseolus vulgaris</Emphasis> L.) varieties is markedly increased by rhizobial inoculation and phosphorus application in Ethiopia

A field experiment was conducted to assess plant growth, symbiotic performance and grain yield of common bean in response to rhizobial incoculation and phosphorus application at Galalicha in Southern Ethiopia during the 2012 and 2013 cropping seasons under rain-fed conditions. The treatments consisted of 2 released common bean varieties (Hawassa Dume and Ibbado), 3 levels of Rhizobium inoculation (uninoculated, inoculated with strain HB-429 or GT-9) and 4 levels of phosphorus application (0, 10, 20 and 30 kg P ha^?1) using a split-split plot design with four replications. Here, phosphorus levels, Rhizobium inoculation and common bean varieties were assigned as main, sub- and sub-sub treatments, respectively. The results revealed marked varietal differences in plant growth, grain yield and symbiotic performance. Of the two common bean varieties studied, Hawassa Dume generally showed superior performance in most measured parameters in 2013. Rhizobium inoculation significantly (p?≤?0.05) increased plant growth, symbiotic performance and grain yield. Applying Rhizobium strain HB-429 to bean crop respectively increased plant growth, %Ndfa, amount of N-fixed and grain yield by 19, 17, 54 and 48% over uninoculated control. Similarly, the application of 20 kg P ha^?1 to bean plants respectively resulted in 36, 20, 96 and 143% increase in plant growth, %Ndfa, N-fixed and grain yield when compared to the control. These results clearly indicate that plant growth, symbiotic performance and grain yield of common bean can be significantly increased by Rhizobium inoculation and phosphorus fertilization in Ethiopia. Rhizobium inoculants are a cheaper source of nitrogen than chemical fertilizers and when combined with moderate phosphorus application can markedly increase grain yield for resource-poor farmers.     

Plant growth, community structure, and nutrient removal in monoculture and mixed constructed wetlands

The aim of this study was to compare the growth, community structure, and nutrient removal rates between monoculture and mixed wetlands, based on the hypothesis that it depends on the plant species used in the wetlands as to whether monoculture or mixed wetland is superior in plant growth and nutrient removal. Pilot-scale monoculture and mixed constructed wetlands were studied over 4 years. The monoculture wetland had a community height similar to the mixed wetland during the early years but a significantly lower height than the mixed wetland (P < 0.05) during the last year. The mixed wetland also displayed a higher plant density than the monoculture wetland (P < 0.05). The leaf area index in the monoculture wetland was significantly higher in the first year (P < 0.05) and significantly lower in the later years (P < 0.05) than that in the mixed wetland. The monoculture wetland had a similar vertical distribution of below-ground biomass over 4 years, while the mixed wetland showed a significant change in vertical distribution of below-ground biomass in the last 2 years. The monoculture wetland had a larger (P < 0.05) above-ground biomass and a similar leaf biomass in the first year, and a smaller above-ground biomass (P < 0.05) and a smaller leaf biomass (P < 0.05) than the mixed wetland during the latter 2 years. The amount of standing dead mass was smaller in the mixed wetland than in the monoculture wetland (P < 0.05). The mixed wetland exhibited a significantly lower NH₄-N removal rate in the first year (P < 0.05), and significantly higher NH₄-N removal rate in the last year, when compared to the monoculture wetland (P < 0.05). The study indicated that species competition and stubble growth resulted in significant differences between monoculture and mixed constructed wetlands in plant growth, community structure, and nutrient removal rates.     

Plant growth and nutrient removal in constructed monoculture and mixed wetlands related to stubble attributes

The aim of this study is to test the hypothesis that it depends on plant species used in the wetlands and their stubble growth attributes, as to whether monoculture or mixed wetland is superior in plant growth and nutrient removal. Monoculture and mixed wetland microcosms of five wetland plant species were studied. Significant differences in growth and aboveground biomass were found in the monoculture wetlands. Species that showed faster growth and larger biomass in monoculture wetland were also dominant in the mixed wetland. The mixed wetland exhibited similar biomass and root growth to the averages of five monocultures. ANOVA showed that there were very significant differences among the wetlands in removal rates of all the nutrients studied except nitrate nitrogen (NO₃-N) and chemical oxygen demand (COD). The removal rates from the mixed wetland were generally comparable to the highest removal rates from the monocultures. The species exhibited different stubble growth attributes, with some species showing increasing stubble growth and removal rates, while other species showing decreasing stubble growth and removal rates. The results indicated that in both monocultures and mixed constructed wetlands, growth and nutrient removal rates depended on plant species, and attributes of plant stubble growth affected overall growth and nutrient removal capabilities.     

Impact of density of Aphis craccivora (Aphididae) on growth and yield of susceptible and resistant cowpea cultivars

Impact of initial density of cowpea aphid Aphis craccivora Koch (Aphididae) at infestation on the growth and yield of aphid-susceptible cowpea cultivar ICV-1 and aphid-resistant cultivar ICV-12, was investigated. Plants at the seedling, flowering and podding stages of development were infested with five aphid densities consisting of 0, 2, 5, 10 and. 20 aphids per plant and maintained for 22 days. Extended leaf heights of plants and aphid counts were recorded at 7, 12, 17 and 22 days after infestation. Two crop growth parameters (biomass duration and leaf area duration), and two plant yield parameters (number of pods per plant and number of seeds per pod) were recorded. Due to the occurrence of parthenogenesis and changes in population dynamics during infestations, aphid densities were converted into cumulative cowpea aphid-days, to facilitate data analyses and interpretation. ANOVA indicated that there was significant (P=s 0.05) difference in aphid-day accumulations between the two cultivars when infested at the seedling stage. Accumulations on cv. ICV-1 were greater than on cv. ICV-12. However, no such differences between the cultivars were detected when plants were infested at flowering and podding stages. Therefore, the seedling stage was used for comparisons of the impact of cowpea aphid-days on the growth and yield parameters of the two cultivars. At the 95% confidence intervals, ICV-12 plants were consistently taller than ICV-1 plants. Infested ICV-1 seedlings showed stunting and other growth deformities which were not observed on ICV-12 plants. Regression analyses revealed substantial reductions in the growth and yield parameters of ICV-1 relative to ICV-12. Overall, cowpea aphid-days provided a convenient and reliable method for studying the aphid population dynamics and the subsequent impact on plant growth and yield performance.     

Effects of soil temperature and phosphorus supply on an annual grass and clover grown in monoculture and in mixed culture

Summary This paper describes the effects of soil temperature and phosphorus supply on Bromus rigidum Roth. and Trifolium subterraneum L. grown either in monoculture or in mixed culture. The experiment was designed as a replacement series with plant density maintained at 0.3 plants cm^–2.The results show that increasing soil temperature increases the yield of both species, and increases the competitive ability of the clover with respect to the grass. The root length of the grass increased with increasing soil temperature, but that of clover remained constant. At any given temperature clover root length was greater in mixed culture than in monoculture.The ecological implications of these results are discussed.     

入侵豚草与本地植物竞争对丛枝菌根真菌多样性的影响

外来植物入侵常引起入侵地丛枝菌根真菌（arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi,AMF）多样性的变化,但AMF多样性的变化与入侵域本地植物种类相关性目前尚不清楚。本研究采用野外同质园试验研究豚草与不同本地植物竞争时对AMF多样性的影响。本试验共设入侵豚草单种、本地植物狗尾草Setaria viridis单种、藜 Chenopodium album单种、黄香草木犀Melilotus officinalis单种、豚草和狗尾草混种、豚草和藜混种、豚草和黄香草木犀混种以及裸土（无任何植物生长）对照8个处理。采集根区土样后分离、鉴定AMF,分析植株生物量和AMF物种多样性变化间的关系。结果表明,对豚草而言,单种处理中生物量均高于混种处理;豚草分别与3种本地植物竞争时,与黄香草木犀混种中豚草竞争能力最强,而与藜混种中竞争能力最弱。豚草分别与3种本地植物混种时土壤中AMF种丰度和香农-威纳指数分别显著高于豚草单种和本地植物单种,其中豚草与藜混种中AMF的种丰度和香农-威纳指数最高,与狗尾草混种中AMF的种丰度和香农-威纳指数最低,而豚草分别与3种本地植物混种处理中孢子密度显著低于本地植物单种（豚草与黄香草木犀混种除外）。豚草单种、狗尾草单种、藜单种、豚草分别与狗尾草和藜混种4个处理中AMF优势种均为网状球囊霉Glomus reticulatum和缩隔球囊霉Septoglomus constrictum;黄香草木犀单种中优势种是网状球囊霉、缩隔球囊霉和根内根孢囊霉Rhizophagus Intraradices,豚草与黄香草木犀混种中优势种是网状球囊霉和根内根孢囊霉;狗尾草单种、豚草与狗尾草混种和豚草与藜混种3个处理的特有种分别是木薯根孢囊霉Rhizoglomus manihotis、近明球囊霉Claroideoglomus claroideum和美丽盾巨孢囊霉Scutellospora calospora。狗尾草单种生物量与孢子密度呈显著正相关,豚草与狗尾草混种中豚草的生物量与均匀度呈显著负相关,豚草与黄香草木犀混种中豚草的生物量与孢子密度呈显著正相关,与香农威纳指数呈显著负相关。综上可知,豚草与本地植物竞争对AMF多样性的影响具有异质性,这与本地植物种类密切相关。     

Plant responsiveness to variation in precipitation and nitrogen is consistent across the compositional diversity of a California annual grassland

Question: How does responsiveness to water and Nitrogen (N) availability vary across the compositional and functional diversity that exists in a mesic California annual grassland plant community? Location: Northern California annual grassland. Methods: A mesocosm system was used to simulate average annual precipitation totals and dry and wet year extremes observed in northern California mesic grasslands. The effects of precipitation and N availability on biomass and fecundity were measured on three different vegetation types, a mixed grass forb community, and a forb and a grass monoculture. The treatment effects on plant community composition were examined in the mixed species community. Results: While growth and seed production of the three vegetation types was inherently different, their responses to variation in precipitation and N were statistically similar. Plant density, shoot biomass, and seed production tended to increase with greater water availability in all vegetation types, with the exception of a consistent growth reduction in high precipitation (1245 mm) plots in the first year of the study. Shoot biomass responded positively to N addition, an effect that increased with greater water availability. Nitrogen addition had little effect on plant density or seed production. In the mixed grass‐forb community, biomass responsiveness to water and N treatments were consistently driven by the shoot growth of Avena barbata, the dominant grass species. Conclusions: Vegetation responses to changes in precipitation and N availability were consistent across a range of composition and structural diversity in this study. Plant growth and seed production were sensitive to both increased and decreased precipitation totals, and the magnitude of these responses to N availability varied depending on soil moisture conditions. Our results suggest the impacts of changing precipitation regimes and N deposition on annual productivity of California grasslands may be predictable under different climate scenarios across a range of plant communities.     

Economy of Carbon and Nitrogen in a Nodulated and Nonnodulated (NO(3)-grown) Legume

Partitioning and utilization of assimilated C and N were compared in nonnodulated, NO₃-fed and nodulated, N₂-fed plants of white lupin (Lupinus albus L.). The NO₃ regime used (5 millimolar NO₃) promoted closely similar rates of growth and N assimilation as in the symbiotic plants. Over 90% of the N absorbed by the NO₃-fed plants was judged to be reduced in roots. Empirically based models of C and N flow demonstrated that patterns of incorporation of C and N into dry matter and exchange of C and N among plant parts were essentially similar in the two forms of nutrition. NO₃-fed and N₂-fed plants transported similar types and proportions of organic solutes in xylem and phloem. Withdrawal of NO₃ supply from NO₃-fed plants led to substantial changes in assimilate partitioning, particularly in increased translocation of N from shoot to root. Nodulated plants showed a lower (57%) conversion of C or net photosynthate to dry matter than did NO₃-fed plants (69%), and their stems were only half as effective as those of NO₃-fed plants in xylem to phloem transfer of N supplied from the root. Below-ground parts of symbiotic plants consumed a larger share (58%) of the plants' net photosynthate than did NO₃-fed roots (50%), thus reflecting a higher CO₂ loss per unit of N assimilated (10.2 milligrams C/milligram N) by the nodulated root than by the root of the NO₃-fed plant (8.1 milligrams C/milligram N). Theoretical considerations indicated that the greater CO₂ output of the nodulated root involved a slightly greater expenditure for N₂ than for NO₃ assimilation, a small extra cost due to growth and maintenance of nodule tissue, and a considerably greater nonassimilatory component of respiration in root tissue of the symbiotic plant than in the root of the NO₃-fed plant.     

Effect of Rhizobium Sp. Inoculation on N2-Fixing and Photosynthetic Activities of Two Cowpea [Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.] Genotypes

Time course of symbiotic N₂-fixing and photosynthetic activities during vegetative growth from 30 d after plantation until pod set was measured in the CB5 and 7964 cowpea [Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.] genotypes of contrasting senescence traits. At emergence, seedlings were inoculated with a "non-cowpea miscellany" Rhizobium strain generally used to inoculate Cicer arietinum. Maximum N₂-fixing activity occurred in inoculated CB5 and 7964 plants about 54 and 68 d after plantation, respectively. A similar temporal shift of maximum was found for net photosynthetic rate (P _N), confirming a good coordination between the two processes. A higher P _N was found from the first measurements in inoculated plants of both genotypes as compared with uninoculated plants. Apparently, the maximum activity of both N₂-fixation and P _N was timed to occur at a particular stage of plant ontogeny correlating the high N supply with the high N demand by the plant. Rhizobium inoculation did not significantly affect partitioning coefficients of biomass to various plant organs but extended leaf longevity by about 10 d in the CB5 genotype, retarding thus the monocarpic senescence. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Sensitivity of the common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) symbiosis to high soil temperature

Summary Experiments were done to test whether N fixation is more sensitive to high soil temperatures in common bean than in cowpea or soybean. Greenhouse experiments compared nodulation, nitrogenase activity, growth and nitrogen accumulation of several host/strain combinations of common bean with the other grain legumes and with N-fertilization, at various root temperatures. Field experiments compared relative N-accumulation (in symbiotic relative to N-fertilized plants) of common bean with cowpea under different soil thermal regimes. N-fertilized beans were unaffected by the higher temperatures, but nitrogen accumulation by symbiotic beans was always more sensitive to high root temperatures (33°C, 33/28°C, 34/28°C compared with 28°C) than were cowpea and soybean symbiosis. Healthy bean nodules that had developed at low temperatures functioned normally in acetylene reduction tests done at 35°C. High temperatures caused little or no suppression of nodule number. However, bean nodules produced at high temperatures were small and had low specific activity. ForP. vulgaris some tolerance to high temperature was observed among rhizobium strains (e.g., CIAT 899 was tolerant) but not among host cultivars. Heat tolerance ofP. acutifolius andP. lunatus symbioses was similar to that of cowpea and soybean. In the field, high surface soil temperatures did not reduce N accumulation in symbiotic beans more than in cowpea, probably because of compensatory nodulation in the deeper and cooler parts of the soil.     

Nodulation studies in legumes

Summary The influence of combined nitrogen (as ammonium nitrate) on the symbiotic performances of selected bacterial associations of four legumes was examined using sand culture.In barrel medic (Medicago tribuloides Desr.) and vetch (Vicia sativa L. andV. atropurpurea Desf.) bacterial partnerships of a host plant varied greatly in their nodulation responses to a range of amounts of nitrogen applied at sowing. Some bacterial strains exhibited varying degrees of stimulation of nodule number, growth and fixation by low or medium amounts of nitrogen. Higher levels of combined nitrogen depressed symbiosis. Other strain responses showed a severe restriction of symbiosis with any amount of added nitrogen.Seasonal influences conditioned symbiotic responses to combined nitrogen in an association of cowpea (Vigna sinensis End.) With a summer sowing small amounts of ammonium nitrate added at sowing benefited later symbiotic development. No such stimulation was evident in an autumn sowing and symbiotic injury from high levels of nitrogen was greater than in the summer sowing.The developing association of cowpea was found to be most sensitive to ammonium nitrate added just as the first leaves unfolded. Here damage was manifest in a permanent elevation of the top: root ratio with subnormal growth and functioning of nodules. Greatest benefit from added inorganic nitrogen followed applications made as the first nodules appeared on the primary root. In this case added combined nitrogen acted as an investment providing returns in additional fixation equivalent to 5–10 times the amount of nitrogen originally fed to the seedling and representing some 50 per cent greater total fixation than in minus-nitrogen controls.     

Interspecific root interactions and rhizosphere effects on salt ions and nutrient uptake between mixed grown peanut/maize and peanut/barley in original saline-sodic-boron toxic soil

Two glasshouse studies were conducted to investigate the effect of interspecific complementary and competitive root interactions and rhizosphere effects on the concentration and uptake of Na, Cl and B, and N, P, K, Ca, Mg, Fe, Zn and Mn nutrition of mixed cropped peanut with maize (Experiment I), and barley (Experiment II) grown in nutrient-poor saline-sodic and B toxic soil. Mixed cropped plants were grown in either higher density or lower density. The results of the experiment revealed that dry shoot weight decreased in peanut but increased in maize and barley with associated plant species compared to their monoculture. Shoot Na and Cl concentrations of peanut decreased significantly in both experiments, regardless of higher or lower density. The concentrations of Na also decreased in the shoots of mixed cropped maize and barley, but Cl concentrations increased slightly. The concentration of B significantly decreased in mixed cropping in all plant species regardless of higher or lower density. Rhizosphere chemistry was strongly and differentially modified by the roots of peanut, maize and barley, and mixed growing. There were significant correlations between the root-secreted acid phosphatases (S-APase), acid phosphatase in rhizosphere (RS-APase) and rhizosphere P concentration (RS-P) in the both experiments. The Fe-solubilizing activity (Fe-SA) and ferric reducing (FR) capacity of the roots were generally higher in mixed culture relative to their monoculture, which improved Fe, Zn and Mn nutrition of peanut. Further, there were also significant correlations among FR, Fe-SA and RS-Fe concentrations. Peanut facilitated P nutrition of maize and barley, while maize and barley improved K, Fe, Zn and Mn nutrition of peanut grown in nutrient-poor saline-sodic and B toxic soil.     

Differential susceptibility of two varieties of cowpea (Vigna unguiculata (L) Walp) to phosphorus-induced zinc deficiency

Summary In a soil pot culture experiment conducted under greenhouse conditions, two varieties of cowpea (Vigna unguiculata (L) Walp) were found to be differentially susceptible to phosphorus-induced zinc deficiency. Although phosphate application, in the absence of applied zinc, caused growth disorder in both the varieties, the symptoms were more virulent, appeared early and were induced with both 25 and 75 ppm phosphorus in variety HFC-42-1, as against FOS-1, in which case zinc deficiency symptoms appeared under P₇₅Zn₀ treatment only. Contrary to the expectation the more susceptible variety was found to have higher zinc concentration in its shoots and thus the differential susceptibility of these varieties of cowpea could not be related to their zinc absorption characteristics. High phosphate application caused efflux of zinc during 16–32 day growth in both the varieties. However, higher sensitivity to phosphorus-induced zinc disorder in variety HFC-42-1, appeared to be due to nearly 2 times higher P concentration in this variety as against FOS-1. The results indicate that variety HFC-42-1 has a greater need for zinc because of its inherent capacity to accumulate more phosphorus. Dry matter yield and phosphorus and zinc content in the varieties were also differentially affected by the applications of both phosphate as well as zinc. re]19760504     

Cascading effects of belowground predators on plant communities are density‐dependent

Soil food webs comprise a multitude of trophic interactions that can affect the composition and productivity of plant communities. Belowground predators feeding on microbial grazers like Collembola could decelerate nutrient mineralization by reducing microbial turnover in the soil, which in turn could negatively influence plant growth. However, empirical evidences for the ecological significance of belowground predators on nutrient cycling and plant communities are scarce. Here, we manipulated predator density (Hypoaspis aculeifer: predatory mite) with equal densities of three Collembola species as a prey in four functionally dissimilar plant communities in experimental microcosms: grass monoculture (Poa pratensis), herb monoculture (Rumex acetosa), legume monoculture (Trifolium pratense), and all three species as a mixed plant community. Density manipulation of predators allowed us to test for density‐mediated effects of belowground predators on Collembola and lower trophic groups. We hypothesized that predator density will reduce Collembola population causing a decrease in nutrient mineralization and hence detrimentally affect plant growth. First, we found a density‐dependent population change in predators, that is, an increase in low‐density treatments, but a decrease in high‐density treatments. Second, prey suppression was lower at high predator density, which caused a shift in the soil microbial community by increasing the fungal: bacterial biomass ratio, and an increase of nitrification rates, particularly in legume monocultures. Despite the increase in nutrient mineralization, legume monocultures performed worse at high predator density. Further, individual grass shoot biomass decreased in monocultures, while it increased in mixed plant communities with increasing predator density, which coincided with elevated soil N uptake by grasses. As a consequence, high predator density significantly increased plant complementarity effects indicating a decrease in interspecific plant competition. These results highlight that belowground predators can relax interspecific plant competition by increasing nutrient mineralization through their density‐dependent cascading effects on detritivore and soil microbial communities.