Summary
The growth response of S. humilis to six levels of phosphorus × five levels of nitrogen × three levels of potassium in association with Rhizobium CB103 is described for plants growing in a nitrogen deficient, light textured, solodic soil.
Phosphorus greatly stimulated growth and nodulation at all levels of nitrogen addition. The effect of nitrogen interacted strongly with level of phosphorus application, with response in yield of tops to nitrogen increasing with phosphorus level up to P500 (kg superphosphate/ha). The addition of nitrogen depressed nodulation at P0–P125 but was beneficial at P250–P1000. Visual observations suggested that high nitrogen checked growth initially but despite this the high nitrogen-high phosphorus combination produced the largest and best nodulated plants.
There were only minor responses to potassium in this trial.
Particular balanced combinations of nitrogen and phosphorus stimulated successful nodulation of S. humulis, enabling it to achieve higher yield and nitrogen content than from symbiotic nitrogen alone.
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Gates, C.T., Wilson, J.R. The interaction of nitrogen and phosphorus on the growth, nutrient status and nodulation of Stylosanthes humilis H.B.K. (townsville stylo). Plant Soil 41, 325–333 (1974). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00017260
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00017260