Influence of Reduced Leaching on Growth of Seedlings of Black Locust Inoculated with Rhizobia

Authors

William R. Graves, Iowa State UniversityFollow
Sandra R. Anfinson, Iowa State Universtiy

Document Type

Research

Keywords

Robinia pseudoacacia L., sustainable agriculture, nitrogen fixation, salinity

Abstract

Seedlings of black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia L.) were inoculated with compatible rhizobia and irrigated twice each week with solution containing either 50 or 150 mg nitrogen/L. Leaching fraction treatments of 0, 0.2, or 0.4 were maintained for 6 weeks. Seedlings supplied 50 mg nitrogen/L grew poorly compared co planes supplied 150 mg nitrogen/L regardless of leaching fraction. Dry masses of shoots and of entire planes were lower for seedlings in the 0 and 0.2 leaching fraction treatments compared with chose in the 0.4 treatment. Neither leaching fraction nor applied nitrogen concentration appeared co affect the number of nodules per plant, but nodule diameter seemed greater on planes irrigated with the more dilute solution. We conclude that reducing leaching can reduce shoot growth of containerized black locust, but the monetary and environmental benefits of lower water and fertilizer use should be considered before the commercial significance of the growth reduction is judged.

Publication Date

June 1994

Journal Title

Journal of the Iowa Academy of Science

Volume

101

Issue

2

First Page

54

Last Page

55

Copyright

© Copyright 1994 by the Iowa Academy of Science, Inc.

Language

EN

File Format

application/pdf

Recommended Citation

Graves, William R. and Anfinson, Sandra R. (1994) "Influence of Reduced Leaching on Growth of Seedlings of Black Locust Inoculated with Rhizobia," Journal of the Iowa Academy of Science: JIAS, 101(2), 54-55.
Available at: https://scholarworks.uni.edu/jias/vol101/iss2/7