Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Growth and nutrient concentration of two native forage legumes inoculated with Rhizobium and Mycorrhiza in Missouri, USA

  • Published:
Agroforestry Systems Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The Center for Agroforestry at the University of Missouri has tested numerous native legumes for potential use in agroforestry and selected Illinois bundleflower (Desmanthus illinoensis (Michaux) MacMillan ex Robinson and Fern.) and panicled tick clover (Desmodium paniculatum (L.) DC.) for further testing. Our objective was to document the effect of arbuscular mycorrhizae (AM) (Glomus spp.) and Rhizobium on growth and nutrient concentration of these legumes. Seeds were planted in a greenhouse and inoculated with one of two species of AM and/or one of two strains of Rhizobium. Plants were harvested after 80 d and data taken on leaf and stem dry weight, root fresh weight, stem height, nodulation, AM colonization, and N, P, K, Ca, and Mg concentration. Inoculation with Rhizobium did not affect plant growth in Illinois bundleflower, but colonization by Glomus intraradices increased all plant growth variables except stem height. Nutrient concentration was unaffected by the presence of either endophyte. In contrast, inoculation of panicled tick clover with Rhizobium str. 41Z10 increased leaf dry weight (32%) compared to the control and root fresh weight (41%) compared to str. 32Z3, and colonization by G. intraradices increased leaf dry weight (35%) and stem height (26%). Both species of AM increased P and K concentration (41% and 55%, respectively) in panicled tick clover. Our results suggest that the growth of these legumes can be improved by the use of proper AM species and/or Rhizobium strains. However, additional research to identify the best Rhizobium and AM inoculates for these plant species is important in developing strategies for their use in agroforestry.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • AOAC International 1995. Official Methods of Analysis of AOAC International. AOAC International, Arling418ton, Virginia, USA, 2000 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Azcon R. and El-Atrash F. 1997. Influence of arbuscular mycorrhizae and phosphorus fertilization on growth, nodulation and N2 fixation (15N) in Medicago sativa at four salinity levels. Biol. Fertil. Soils 24: 81–86.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Azcon R., Rubio R. and Barea J.M. 1991. Selective interactions between different species of mycorrhizal fungi and Rhizobium meliloti strains, and their effects on growth, N2-fixation (15N) and nutrition of Medicago sativa L. New Phytol. 117: 399–404.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bethlenfalvay G.J., Brown M.S. and Stafford A.E. 1985. Glycine-Glomus-Rhizobium symbiosis. II. Antagonistic effects between mycorrhizal colonization and nodulation. Plant Physiol. 79: 1054–1058.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bohnsack C.W. 1991. Investigating the boron requirement of plants. The American Biology Teacher 53 (8): 486–488.

    Google Scholar 

  • Brown J.R. and Rodriguez R.R. 1983. Soil testing in Missouri. Missouri Cooperative Extension Service Publication EC923

  • Cluett H.C. and Boucher D.H. 1983. Indirect mutualism in the legume-Rhizobium-mycorrhizal fungus interaction. Oecologia (Berlin) 59: 405–408.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • El-Kherbawy M., Angle J.S., Heggo A. and Chaney R.L. 1989. Soil pH, rhizobia, and vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizae inoculation effects on growth and heavy metal uptake of alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.). Biol. Fertil. Soils 8: 61–65.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Fitter A.H. and Garbaye J. 1994. Interactions between mycorrhizal fungi and other soil organisms. Plant and Soil 159: 123–132.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hodge A. 2000. Microbial ecology of the arbuscular mycorrhiza. FEMS Microbiology Ecology 32: 91–96.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Nielsen J.D. and Jensen A. 1983. Influence of vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhiza fungi on growth and uptake of various nutrients as well as uptake ratio of fertilizer P for Lucerne (Medicago sativa). Plant and Soil 70: 165–172.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Phillips J.M. and Hayman D.S. 1970. Improved procedures for clearing roots and staining parasitic and vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi for rapid assessment of infection. Trans Br. Mycol. Soc. 55 (1): 158–161.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ross J.P. 1971. Effect of phosphate fertilization on yield of mycorrhizal and nonmycorrhizal soybeans. Phytopathology 61: 1400–1403.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Smith S.E. and Daft M.J. 1977. Interactions between growth, phosphate content and nitrogen fixation in mycorrhizal and nonmycorrhizal Medicago sativa. Aust. J. Plant Physiol. 4: 403–413.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Steel R.G. and Torrie J.H. 1960. Principles and Procedures of Statistics. McGraw-Hill Book Co., New York, USA.

    Google Scholar 

  • Xie Z., Staehelin C., Vierheilig H., Wiemken A., Jabbouri S., Broughton W.J., Vogeli-Lange R. and Boller T. 1995. Rhizobial nodulation factors stimulate mycorrhizal colonization of nodulating and nonnodulating soybeans. Plant Physiol. 108: 1519–1525.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Author notes

  1. R.L. McGraw

    Present address: Dept. of Agronomy, University of Missouri, Department of Agronomy, 208 Waters Hall, Columbia, MO, 65211, USA

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Dept. of Agronomy, University of Missouri, 210 Waters Hall, Columbia, MO, 65211, USA

    F.W. Shockley & R.L. McGraw

  2. Dept. of Forestry and Director of the Center for Agroforestry, University of Missouri, 203 Anheuser-Busch Natural Resources Building, Columbia, MO, 65211, USA

    H.E. Garrett

Authors
  1. F.W. Shockley
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. R.L. McGraw
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. H.E. Garrett
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Shockley, F., McGraw, R. & Garrett, H. Growth and nutrient concentration of two native forage legumes inoculated with Rhizobium and Mycorrhiza in Missouri, USA. Agroforestry Systems 60, 137–142 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1023/B:AGFO.0000013269.19284.53

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/B:AGFO.0000013269.19284.53

Search

Navigation