Abstract
Potassium (K) is reported to improve plant's resistance against environmental stress. A frequently experienced stress for plants in the tropics is water shortage. It is not known if sufficient K supply would help plants to partially overcome the effects of water stress, especially that of symbiotic nitrogen fixation which is often rather low in the tropics when compared to that of temperate regions. Thus, the impact of three levels of fertilizer potassium (0.1, 0.8 and 3.0 mM K) on symbiotic nitrogen fixation was evaluated with two legumes under high (field capacity to 25% depletion) and low (less than 50% of field capacity) water regimes. Plants were grown in single pots in silica sand under controlled conditions with 1.5 mM N (15N enriched NH4NO3). The species were faba bean (Vicia faba L.), a temperate, amide producing legume and common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.), a tropical, ureide producing species. In both species, 0.1 mM K was insufficient for nodulation at both moisture regimes, although plant growth was observed. The supply of 0.8 or 3.0 mM K allowed nodulation and subsequent nitrogen fixation which appeared to be adequate for respective plant growth. High potassium supply had a positive effect on nitrogen fixation, on shoot and root growth and on water potential in both water regimes. Where nodulation occurred, variations caused by either K or water supply had no consequences on the percentage of nitrogen derived from the symbiosis. The present data indicate that K can apparently alleviate water shortage to a certain extent. Moreover it is shown that the symbiotic system in both faba bean and common bean is less tolerant to limiting K supply than plants themselves. However, as long as nodulation occurs, N assimilation from the symbiotic source is not selectively affected by K as opposed to N assimilation from fertilizer.
Article PDF
Similar content being viewed by others
Explore related subjects
Discover the latest articles, news and stories from top researchers in related subjects.Avoid common mistakes on your manuscript.
References
Add-Alla, M H and Abdel Wahab, A M 1995 Response of nitrogen fixation and nodule activities and growth to potassium supply and water stressed broadbean. J. Plant Nutr. 18, 1391–1402.
APO 1980 Grain Legume Production in Asia. Asian Productivity Organization. Tokyo, Japan. 240 p.
Barta, A L 1982 Response of symbiotic N2 fixation and assimilate partitioning to K supply in alfalfa. Crop Sci. 22, 89–92.
Beringer, H, Haeder, H E and Lindhauer, M G 1983 Water relationships and incorporation of 14C assimilates in tuber of potato plants differing in potassium nutrition. Plant Physiol. 73, 956–960.
Black, C A 1965 Methods in Soil Analysis, Vol. 1. Am. Soc. Agron., Madison, USA. 1840 p.
Bordeleau, L M and Prévost 1994 Nodulation and nitrogen fixation inextreme environments. Plant and Soil 161, 115–125.
Cadisch, G, Sylvester-Bradley, R, Boller, B C and Nösberger, J 1993 Effects of phosphorus and potassium on N2 fixation (15N-dilution) of field-grown Centrosema acutiforlium and C. macrocarpum. Field Crops Res. 31, 329–340.
Carangal, J, Rao, M V and Siwi, B R 1987 Limits imposed by management in irrigated farming systems. In Food Legume Improvement for Asian Farming Systems. Eds. E S, Wallis and D E, Bythe. pp 64–71. ACIAR, Canberra, Australia.
Chalamet, A, Audergon, J M, Maitre, J P and Domenach, A M 1987 Study of influence of potassium on the Trifolium pratense fixation by δ15N method. Plant and Soil 98, 347–352.
Duke, S H and M Collins, M 1985 Role of potassium in legume dinitrogen fixation. In Potassium in Agriculture. Ed. R, Munns. pp 443–466. Am. Soc. Agron, Madison, USA.
FAO 1995 FAO Production Yearbook 1994. FAO, Rome, Italy. 234 p.
Gober, J W and Kashket, E R 1987 K+ regulates bacteroid-associated functions of Bradyrhizobium. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 84, 4650–4654.
Guardia, de la, M and Benlloch, M 1980 Effects of potassium and gibbelleric acid on stem growth of whole sunflower plants. Physiol. Plant. 49, 443–448.
Hammer, P T, Tibbitts, T W, Langhans, R W and McFarlane, J C 1978 Baseline growth studies of ‘Grand rapids’ lettuce in controlled environment. J. Am. Soc. Hort. Sci. 103, 649–655.
Hanway, J J and Johnson, J W 1985 Potassium nutrition of soybean. In Potassium in Agriculture. Ed. R, Munns. pp 754–764. Am. Soc. Agron., Madison, USA.
Hardwick, R C 1984 Some recent developments in growth analysis—A review. Ann. Bot. 54, 804–812.
Hartwig, U A, Heim, I, Lüscher, A and Nösberger, J 1994 The nitrogen sink is involved in the regulation of nitrogenase activity in white cluver after defoliation. Physiol. Plant. 92, 375–382.
Hartwig, U A and Nösberger, J 1994 What triggers the regulation of nitrogenase activity in forage legume nodules after defoliation? Plant and Soil 161, 109–114.
Heim, I, Hartwig, U A and Nösberger, J 1993 Current nitrogen fixation is involved in the regulation of nitrogenase activity in white clever (Trifolium repens L.). Plant Physiol. 103, 1009–1014.
Khanna-Chopra, R, Kirpa, K R and Sinha, S K 1984 A Simple technique of studying water deficit effects on nitrogen fixation in nodules without influencing the whole plant. Plant Physiol. 76, 254–256.
Lindhauer, M 1989 Role of potassium in cell extension, growth and storage of assimilates. In Methods of Potassium Research in Plants. pp 161–188. International Potash Institute, Berne, Switzerland.
Marschner, H 1995 Mineral Nutrition of Higher Plants. 2nd ed. Academic Press, London, UK. 889 p.
Mengel, K and Arneke, W W 1982 Effect of potassium on the water potential, the pressure potential, the osmotic potential and cell elongation in leaves of Phaseolus vulgaris. Physiol. Plant. 54, 402–408.
Mengel, K and Helal, M 1968 Der Einfluss einer variierten N- und K-Ernährung auf den Gehalt an löslichen Aminoverbindungen in der oberirdischen Pflanzenmasse von Hafer. J. Plant Nutr. Soil Sci. 120, 12–20.
Munns, R and Weir, R 1981 Contribution of sugars to osmotic adjustment in elongating and expanded zones of wheat leaves during moderate water deficits at two light levels. Aust. J. Plant Physiol. 8, 93–105.
Oti-Boateng, C and Silsbury, J H 1993 The effects of exogenous amino acid on acetylene reduction activity of Vicia faba L. cv. Fiord. Ann. Bot. 71, 71–74.
Oti-Boateng, C, Wallace, W and Silsbury, J H 1994 The effect of the accumulation of carbohydrate and organic nitrogen on nitrogen fixation (acetylene-reduction) on faba bean cv. Fiord. Ann. Bot. 73, 143–149.
Parsons, R A, Stanforth, A, Raven, A J and Sprent, J I 1993 Nodule growth and activity may be regulated by a feedback mechanism involving phloem nitrogen. Plant Cell Environ. 16, 125–136.
Patanothai, A and Ong, C K 1987 Limits imposed by management in rainfed farming systems. In Food Legume Improvement for Asian Farming Systems. Eds. E S, Wallis and D E, Bythe. pp 72–82. ACIAR, Canberra, Australia.
Robin, C L, Shamsun-Noor, L and Guckert, A 1989 Effect of potassium on the tolerance to PEG-induced water stress of two white clover varieties (Trifolium repens L.). Plant and Soil 120, 153–158.
Sangakkara, U R 1990 Effect of fertilizer potassium on growth and yield of mungbean (Vigna radiata). J. Appl. Seed Prod. 8, 33–39.
Sangakkara, U R, Hartwig, U A and Nösberger, J 1996 Growth and symbiotic nitrogen fixation of Vicia faba and Phaseolus vulgaris as affected by fertilizer potassium and temperature. J. Sci. Food Agric. 70, 315–320.
Sprent, J I and Minchin, F R 1985 Rhizobium, nodulation and nitrogen fixation. In Grain Legume Crops. Eds. R J, Summerfield and E H, Collins. pp 115–144. Collins, London, UK.
Streeter, J 1988 Inhibition of legume nodule formation and N2 fixation by nitrate. Crit. Rev. Plant Sci. 7, 1–23.
Thomas, R J and Hungria, M 1988 Effect of potassium on nitrogen fixation, nitrogen transport and nitrogen harvest index of bean. J. Plant Nutr. 11, 175–188.
Wiersama, D and Christie, B R 1987 Water and agricultural productivity. In Handbook of Plant Science in Agriculture. Ed. E R, Christie. pp 3–56. CRC Press, USA.
Wood, I M and Myers, R J K 1987 Food legumes in farming systems in the tropics and subtropics. In Food Legume Improvement for Asian Farming Systems. Eds. E S, Wallis and D E, Bythe. pp 34–45. ACIAR, Canberra, Australia.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Sangakkara, U.R., Hartwig, U.A. & Nösberger, J. Soil moisture and potassium affect the performance of symbiotic nitrogen fixation in faba bean and common bean. Plant Soil 184, 123–130 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00029282
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00029282