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The nodulation and nitrogenase activity of natural stands of mangrove legumes in a Nigerian swamp

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Abstract

Nodule characteristics and nitrogenase activity of Dalbergia ecastophyllum (L.) Taub, Drepanocarpus (Machearum) lunatus (L.) Mey, Pterocarpus sontelinoides (L.) and the characteristics of nodules of Baphia pubescens (Hook. f) were studied in natural mangrove stands in Nigeria. Nodules were generally spherical but occasionally elongate in Pterocarpus and Baphia; a few were also lobate in Baphia. Nodule sizes, numbers and weights varied widely between vegetations, and between sites of the same vegetation. Total nodule fresh-weight (g·m−2) ranged from 0.11 to 9.80, represented by the extreme values for Drepanocarpus. The plants' habitats had pH and salinity respectively in the ranges 4.8–5.49 and 0.1–25‰. Nodule acetylene reduction rates decreased in the order Pterocarpus, Drepanocarpus, Dalbergia with their corresponding aerobic rates (n moles C2H4 g−1 freshweight) respectively as follows: 312, 23.39 and 16.07. These rates were higher than in anaerobic incubation by between 4.95 and 100%.

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  1. Department of Microbiology, University of Port Harcourt, P.M.B. 5323, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria

    M. T. Ogan

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  1. M. T. Ogan
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Ogan, M.T. The nodulation and nitrogenase activity of natural stands of mangrove legumes in a Nigerian swamp. Plant Soil 123, 125–129 (1990). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00009937

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