The effect of soil nitrate on the growth, nodulation and nitrogen fixation of chickpeas (Cicer arietinum)

• Published in: Plant and soil 1984-01, Vol.82 (2), p.205-214
• Main Authors: JESSOP, ROBIN S., HETHERINGTON, SANDRA J., HOULT, ERROL H.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Agronomy. Soil science and plant productions; Alkynes; Biological and medical sciences; Chickpeas; Cicer arientinum; Cicer arietinum; Crop harvesting; Economic plant physiology; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; General agronomy. Plant production; Mineral nutrition; nitrate; Nitrates; Nitrogen; nitrogen fixation; Nodulation; Nodules; Nutrition. Photosynthesis. Respiration. Metabolism; Plant roots; Plants; Rhizobium; soil; Soil air; Soil-plant relationships. Soil fertility. Fertilization. Amendments; symbiosis; Symbiosis (nodules, symbiotic nitrogen fixation, mycorrhiza...)
• ISSN: 0032-079X; 1573-5036
• DOI: 10.1007/BF02220247

A controlled environment experiment was used to examine the growth and nodulation response of chickpea to a range of soil nitrate ($N_3^ - $) levels (0, 0.75, 1.5, 3.0, 6.0 mM). Dry matter production, nodule mass and number, dinitrogen (N₂) fixation via the acetylene (C₂H₂) reduction method, total nitrogen content and NO$N_3^ - $ concentration were measured at 56 and 90 days from inoculated and uninoculated plants. It was found that chickpeas were less sensitive to the inhibitory effects of $N_3^ - $ than soybeans. High $N_3^ - $ appeared to inhibit the production of nodules early in growth, however, by the second harvest nodulation was stimulated by high $N_3^ - $ levels. Increasing $N_3^ - $ levels gave positive responses in tops and roots dry weight production but, proportionally, these effects were greatest with uninoculated plants. 3 and 6 mM $N_3^ - $ gave similar root and tops dry weight in inoculated plants after 90 days. Nodule dry weight production per pot was maximised at 3.0 mM $N_3^ - $ at both plant harvests. Whilst $N_3^ - $ at 6 mM still gave a strong stimulation of acetylene reduction compared to 0 and 0.75 mM $N_3^ - $, there appeared to be a trend suggesting an inhibitory effect of 6 mM $N_3^ - $ onC₂H₂ reduction compared to 1.5 and 3.0mM $N_3^ - $.