Summary
Variation in nodulation and N2 fixation by the Gliricidia sepium/Rhizobium spp. symbiosis was studied in two greenhouse experiments. The first included 25 provenances of G. sepium inoculated with a mixture of three strains of Rhizobium spp. N2 fixation was measured using the 15N isotope dilution method 12 weeks after planting. On average, G. sepium derived 45% of its total N from atmospheric N2. Significant differences in fixation were observed between provenances. The percentage of N derived from atmospheric N2 ranged from 26 to 68% (equivalent to 18–62 mg N plant-1) and was correlated with total N in the plant (r=0.70; P=0.05). The second experiment included six strains of Rhizobium spp. and two methods of inoculation and the plants were harvested 14,35 and 53 weeks after planting. In the first harvest significant differences were found between the number of nodules and the percentage and amount of N2 fixed. There was also a significant correlation between the number of nodules and the amount of N2 fixed (r=0.92; P=0.05). In the final harvest no correlation was observed, although there were significant differences between the number of nodules and the percentage of N derived from the atmosphere. The amount of N2 fixed increased with time (from an average of 27% at the first harvest to 58% at the final harvest) and was influenced by the Rhizobium spp. strain and the method of inoculation. It ranged from 36% for Rhizobium sp. strain SP 14 to 71% for Rhizobium SP 44 at the last harvest. Values for the percentage of atmosphere derived N2 obtained by soil inoculation were slightly higher than those obtained by seed inoculation.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Atta-Krah AN (1987) Variability in initial growth and leaf coloration in relation to initiation of nodulation in uninoculated accessions of Gliricidia sepium (JACQ) Stend. Nitrogen Fixing Tree Res Rep 5: 39–41
Atta-Krah AN, Sumberg JE (1987) Studies with Gliricidia sepium for crop-livestock production systems in West Africa. In: Nitrogen fixing tree association (NFTA) (ed) Gliricidia sepium (Jacq.) Walp: Management and improvement. Proc workshop held at CATIE, Turialba, Costa Rica, pp 31–44
Fiedler R, Prosch G (1975) The determination of nitrogen-15 by emission and mass spectrometry in biochemical analysis: A review. Anal Chim Acta 78:1–62
Fried M, Middleboe V (1977) Measurement of amount of nitrogen fixed by a legume crop. Plant and Soil 47:713–715
Glover N (1987) Variation among provenances of G. sepium (Jack.) Walp and implication for genetic improvement. In: Nitrogen fixing tree association (NFTA) (ed.) Gliricidia sepium (Jacq.) Walp: Management and improvement. Proc workshop held at CATIE, Turrialba, Costa Rica, pp 168–174
Halliday J, Somasegaran P (1982) Nodulation, nitrogen fixation, and Rhizobium and strain affinities in the genus Leucaena. In: International Development Research Center (IDRC) (ed) Leucaena research in the Asian-Pacific region. IDRC, Ottawa, pp 33–37
Kang BT, Wilson GF, Sipkens L (1981). Alley cropping maize (Zea mays L.) anbd leucaena (Leucaena leucocephala) (Lam) de Wit in Southern Nigeria. Plant and Soil 63: 165–179
Kang BT, Grimme H, Lawson TT (1985). Alley cropping sequentially cropped maize and cowpea with leucaena on sandy soil in Southern Nigeria. Plant and Soil 85:267–277
Mulongoy K, van der Meersch MK (1988). Nitrogen contribution by leucaena (Leucaena leucocephala) prunings to maize in an alley cropping system. Biol Fertil Soils 6: 282–285
Roskoski JP, Montano J, van Kessel C, Castilleja G (1982) Nitrogen fixation by tropical woody legumes: Potential source of soil enrichment. In: Graham PH, Harris SC (eds) Biological nitrogen fixation technology for tropical agriculture. Cali Centro Internacional de Agricultural Tropical (CIAT), pp 441–447
Sanginga N, Mulongoy K, Ayanaba A (1989). Nitrogen fixation of field inoculated (Leucaena leucocephala) (Lam) deWit estimated by the nitrogen-15 and the difference method. Plant and Soil 117:236–243
Sanginga N, Bowen GD, Danso SKA (1990a) Genetic variability for symbiotic N2 fixation within and between provenances of two Casuarina species using the 15N labelling methods. Soil Biol Biochem 22:539–547
Sanginga N, Bowen GD, Danso SKA (1990b) Assessment of genetic variability for N2 fixation between and within provenances of Leucaena leucocephala and Acacia albida estimated by 15 N labelling techniques. Plant and Soil 127:169–178
Sumberg JE (1985) Collection and initial evaluation of Gliricidia sepium for Costa Rica. Agrofor Syst 3:357–361
Vincent JM (1970) A manual for the practical study of the root nodule bacteria. IBP Handbook no 15, Blackwell, Oxford, p 164
Wilson GF, Kang BT, Mulongoy K (1986) Alley cropping: Trees as sources of green manure and mulch in the tropics. Biol Agric Hortic 3:251
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Sanginga, N., Manrique, K. & Hardarson, G. Variation in nodulation and N2 fixation by the Gliricidia sepium/Rhizobium spp. symbiosis in a calcareous soil. Biol Fertil Soils 11, 273–278 (1991). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00335847
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00335847