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Effects of phosphate fertilizer on biomass production and N2(C2H2) fixation by pot-grown Ulex gallii Planchon in a forest soil

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Summary

N2(C2H2) fixation by Ulex gallii Planchon (dwarf or autumn flowering gorse/furze) seedlings was determined following 8 months of growth (December-August) in the glasshouse in a very acid, N- and P-deficient forest soil. Application of Na2HPO4·12H2O or North African ground rock phosphate fertilizer was essential for growth, nodulation and C2H2 reduction activity. Overall, both the sodium phosphate and the rock phosphate were equally effective P sources and the maximum acetylene reduction by intact roots was measured as 4.09 and 4.69 μmol C2H4g-1 fresh weight nodule h-1, respectively. Applied NH4Cl severely inhibited nodulation and restricted acetylene reduction activity but not seedling growth. The results are discussed in relation to the spread of U. gallii in the south of Ireland and its potential as a leguminous nurse crop for Sitka spruce on the very impoverished forest soils of the region.

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  1. P. O'Toole & E. P. Farrell

    Present address: Department of Environmental Resource Management, Faculty of Agriculture, University College, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Agricultural Chemistry and Soil Science, Faculty of Agriculture, University College, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland

    P. O'Toole, D. G. Cahalane & E. P. Farrell

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  1. P. O'Toole
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  2. D. G. Cahalane
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  3. E. P. Farrell
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O'Toole, P., Cahalane, D.G. & Farrell, E.P. Effects of phosphate fertilizer on biomass production and N2(C2H2) fixation by pot-grown Ulex gallii Planchon in a forest soil. Biol Fertil Soils 12, 177–181 (1991). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00337198

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00337198

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