Summary
This paper reports on the occurrence of a bimodal growth response by nodulated lucerne to a range of levels of combined nitrogen and considers the role of temperature and genotypic effects in varying this response. The response is characterised by a peak at low levels of combined nitrogen followed by a trough and a further peak at high levels of nitrogen. Host growth rate, rate of development of nitrogen fixing capacity and combined nitrogen uptake are factors implicated in varying this bimodal response.
Any beneficial response to combined nitrogen is restricted to the pre-linear phase of growth.
The need for high legume growth rates to achieve fixation at high soil nitrogen levels is also shown.
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Hoglund, J.H. Bimodal response by nodulated legumes to combined nitrogen. Plant Soil 39, 533–545 (1973). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00264171
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00264171