ISSN:
1573-5036
Keywords:
legume
;
nitrogen
;
N2-fixation
;
pea
;
sulphur
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Agriculture, Forestry, Horticulture, Fishery, Domestic Science, Nutrition
Notes:
Abstract A S-deficient soil was used in pot experiments to investigate the effects of S addition on growth and N2-fixation in pea (Pisum sativum L.). Addition of 100 mg S pot−1 increased seed yield by more than 2-fold. Numbers of pods formed were the most sensitive yield component affected by S deficiency. Sulphur addition also increased the concentration of N in leaves and stems, and the total content of N in the shoots. The amounts of N fixed by pea were determined at four growth stages from stem elongation to maturity, using the 15N dilution technique. Sulphur addition doubled the amount of N fixed at all growth stages. In contrast, leaf chlorophyll content and shoot dry weight were increased significantly by S addition only after the flowering and pod fill stage, respectively. Pea roots were found to have high concentrations of S, reaching approximately 10 mg g−1 dry weight and being 2.6–4.4 times the S concentration in the shoots under S-sufficient conditions. These results suggest that roots/nodules of pea have a high demand for S, and that N2-fixation is very sensitive to S deficiency. The effects of S deficiency on pea growth were likely to be caused by the shortage of N, due to decreased N2-fixation.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1023/A:1004618303445
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