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Nodulation of lucerne (Medicago sativa L.) roots: depth distribution and temporal variation
- Source :
- Plant, Soil and Environment, Vol 58, Iss 9, Pp 424-428 (2012)
- Publication Year :
- 2012
- Publisher :
- Czech Academy of Agricultural Sciences, 2012.
-
Abstract
- This study was undertaken in order to test whether the development of nodule density over the vegetation period is different in lucerne stands grown for 1, 2 or 3 years continuously. For rapidly assessing nodule density in the field, a modified profile wall method was applied. Nodules were counted on a vertical profile wall, after spraying away a 2 cm layer of soil. For validating this method nodule density was determined on roots washed from monolith samples. Field data indicate that there is a shift of nodulation towards deeper soil layers with increasing maturity of lucerne stands. In 1-year lucerne nodulation was limited virtually to the top 15 cm of soil. In the 15-30 cm soil layer and in the subsoil (30-80 cm), nodule density increased with the cropping duration (1 year < 2 years < 3 years). Temporal decreases in nodule density during the vegetation period associated with dry spells were more pronounced for 2-years as compared with 3-years lucerne.
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 12141178 and 18059368
- Volume :
- 58
- Issue :
- 9
- Database :
- Directory of Open Access Journals
- Journal :
- Plant, Soil and Environment
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- edsdoj.f452111afe44450bae06d74d396135d8
- Document Type :
- article
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.17221/314/2012-PSE