Summary
Alfalfa plants,Medicago sativa L., were selected from the Florida 66 cultivar for vigor in an acid (pH 4.4, Al≥.4 meq/100 g) and a limed, fertilized (pH 6.5, Al=0 meq/100 g, P and K added) Cecil topsoil. The selected plants were intermated by selection condition to achieve two germplasms, acid selected (A-1) and limed, fertile selected (L-1). ARhizobium meliloti strain (79-4s) was isolated from a high acetylene reducing nodule from a plant in a similar acid soil. The germplasms and the Rhizobium strain were then tested in greenhouse pots for agronomic performance under a variety of soil pH and fertility conditions.
The 79-4s inoculum, as well as commercially prepared inoculum, gave better plant yield and acetylene reduction (N2-fixation) at all harvests when compared to a sterile peat control, but the commercial inoculum was the best inoculum treatment. The A-1 germplasm produced higher shoot dry weight at the final harvest than did the L-1 germplasm at all soil pH’s when P and K were applied at the highest rates. The A-1 germplasm also had better root weight (mainly fibrous roots) and acetylene reduction in these soil conditions. The two germplasms appear to be genetically distinct and respond differently depending on soil pH and fertility conditions.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Bouton, J. H., Syers, J. K. and Summer, M. E. 1981 Alfalfa,Medicago sativa L., in highly weathered, acid soils. I. Effect of lime and P application on yield and acetylene reduction (N2-fixation) of young plants. Plant and Soil59, 455.
Buss, G. R., Lutz, J. A. Jr and Hawkins, G. W. 1975 Yield response of alfalfa cultivars and clones to several pH levels in Tatum subsoils. Agron J.67, 331–334.
Devine, T. E., Foy, C. D., Fleming, A. L., Hanson, C. H., Campbell, T. A., McCurtrey, III, J. E. and Schwartz, J. W. 1976 Development of alfalfa strains with differential tolerance to aluminum toxicity. Plant and Soil44, 73–79.
Frey, K. J. 1963 Adaptation reaction of oat strains selected under stress and non-stress environmental conditions, Crop Sci.3, 55–58.
Horner, E. S. 1970 Registration of Florida 66 alfalfa. Crop Sci.10, 456.
Lie, T.A. 1974. Environmental effects on nodulation and symbiotic nitrogen fixation. pp 555–582.In The Biology of Nitrogen Fixation. Ed. A.Quispel. North Holland Publ., Amsterdam.
Rice, W. A. 1977 Selection for acid tolerance inRhizobium meliloti. Proc. Sixth American Rhizobium Conf., Gainsville, FL. p. 8.
Simpson, J. R. 1974 Differential root penetration into low calcium subsoils by genotypes of legume. pp 330–334.In Sectional Papers: Plant Introduction, Breeding and Seed Production. Eds. V. G. Iglovikovet al. Organizing Committee XII International Grassland Congr., Moscow.
Sumner, M. E. 1979 Response of alfalfa and sorghum to lime and P on highly weathered soils. Agron. J.71, 763–766.
Vincent J. M. 1970 A manual for the practical study of root-nodule bacteria. IBP Handbook No.15, Blackwell Scientific Publ., Oxford.
Wambeke, A. Van 1976. Formation, distribution and consequences of acid soils in agricultural development. pp. 15–24.In Plant Adaptation to Mineral Stress in Problem Soils. Ed. M. J. Wright. Special Publ., Cornell Univ. Agric. Exp. Sta. Ithaca, NY.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Bouton, J.H., Sumner, M.E. & Giddens, J.E. Alfalffa,Medicago sativa L., in highly weathered, acid soils. Plant Soil 60, 205–211 (1981). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02374105
Received:
Revised:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02374105