Summary
Studies under growth cabinet conditions investigated the effect of source and concentration of nitrogen and timing of nitrogen application on the growth and nitrogen fixation byLotus pedunculatus cv. Maku andTrifolium repens cv. S184. KNO3, NaNO3 and NH4NO3 were added at transplanting at the following rates: 3.33, 7.78 and 13.33 mg N/plant. KNO3 was added at 3.33 and 7.78 mg N/plant at 0, 6, 12, 18, 24 or 30 days after transplanting.
Lotus shoot weight increased with all increasing nitrogen sources but clover only responded to KNO3 and NaNO3. The root weight of both species increased with increasing KNO3 and NH4NO3. The percentage increase in lotus and clover shoot growth was greater than that of root growth when KNO3 was added within a week of transplanting. Increases in growth by both species resulted from added nitrogen except with lotus when NaNO3 was applied where increased nitrogen fixation also contributed to increased growth.
Weight and number of effective nodules on both species were increased with 3.33 mg N per plant as KNO3 but nitrogen fixation was not affected. Addition of 13.33 mg N as NaNO3 reduced weight and number of effective nodules in both species and also nitrogen fixation by lotus.
KNO3 increased growth and nodulation of both species when applied within one week after transplanting. Nodulated lotus plants responded to KNO3 by increasing growth but not nodulation.
KNO3 appeared to affect infection and development of nodules on lotus and may affect the growth of existing nodules on clover.
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Wedderburn, M.E. The effect of source, concentration and time of application of nitrogen on the growth, nodulation and nitrogen fixation ofLotus pedunculatus andTrifolium repens . Plant Soil 74, 83–91 (1983). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02178743
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02178743