Abstract
Although common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) has good potential for N2 fixation, some additional N provided through fertilizer usually is required for a maximum yield. In this study the suppressive effect of N on nodulation and N2 fixation was evaluated in an unfertile soil under greenhouse conditions with different levels of soil fertility (low=no P, K and S additions; medium = 50, 63 and 10 mg kg−1 soil and high = 200, 256 and 40 mg kg−1 soil, respectively) and combined with 5, 15, 60 and 120 mg N kg−1 soil of 15N-labelled urea. The overall average nodule number and weight increased under high fertility levels. At low N applications, nitrogen had a synergistic effect on N2 fixation, by stimulating nodule formation, nitrogenase activity and plant growth. At high fertility and at the highest N rate (120 mg kg−1 soil), the stimulatory effect of N fertilizer on N2 fixation was still observed, increasing the amounts of N2 fixed from 88 up to 375 mg N plant−1. These results indicate that a suitable balance of soil nutrients is essential to obtain high N2 fixation rates and yield in common beans.
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Tsai, S.M., Bonetti, R., Agbala, S.M. et al. Minimizing the effect of mineral nitrogen on biological nitrogen fixation in common bean by increasing nutrient levels. Plant Soil 152, 131–138 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00016342
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00016342