Associative N2-fixation in pearl millet and sorghum: levels and response to inoculation.

Lee, K K and Wani, S P and Yoneyama, T and Trimurtulu, N and Harikrishnan, R (1994) Associative N2-fixation in pearl millet and sorghum: levels and response to inoculation. Soil Science and Plant Nutrition, 40 (3). pp. 477-484. ISSN 0038-0768

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Abstract

N2-fixation was compared in pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum), sorghum, pigeonpeas, chickpeas, and groundnuts and the responses of the two cereal crops to inoculation with N2-fixing bacteria was examined. The overall mean nitrogenase activity (C2H2 reduction) in pearl millet throughout the growing period was less than 0.1% of that in pigeonpeas and the activity in sorghum was only 1.3% of that in chickpeas. Whether assessed by the determination of the N balance in pots, using pigeonpeas as reference, or by the measurement of the natural abundance of 15N (δ15N) using groundnuts as reference, N gain by these cereals, even when they were inoculated with N2-fixing bacteria was not observed. Inoculation trials were conducted in pots and in the field with Azospirillum lipoferum and Azotobacter chroococcum. Only one trial with sterilized soil in pots showed a significant response to inoculation. It is concluded that associative N2-fixing systems in pearl millet and sorghum do not exert an agronomically significant impact through N input on the production of these crops.

Item Type:	Article
Divisions:	UNSPECIFIED
CRP:	UNSPECIFIED
Subjects:	Mandate crops > Millets Mandate crops > Sorghum
Depositing User:	Library ICRISAT
Date Deposited:	17 Dec 2011 06:31
Last Modified:	17 Dec 2011 06:31
URI:	http://oar.icrisat.org/id/eprint/5016
Official URL:
Projects:	UNSPECIFIED
Funders:	UNSPECIFIED
Acknowledgement:	UNSPECIFIED
Links:	Author

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