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Nitrogen Nutrition of Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata)

III. Distribution of Nitrogen Within Effectively Nodulated Plants*

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  03 October 2008

A. R. J. Eaglesham
Affiliation:
University of Reading, Department of Agriculture and Horticulture, Plant Environment Laboratory, Shinfield, Reading
F. R. Minchin
Affiliation:
University of Reading, Department of Agriculture and Horticulture, Plant Environment Laboratory, Shinfield, Reading
R. J. Summerfield
Affiliation:
University of Reading, Department of Agriculture and Horticulture, Plant Environment Laboratory, Shinfield, Reading
P. J. Dart
Affiliation:
University of Reading, Department of Agriculture and Horticulture, Plant Environment Laboratory, Shinfield, Reading
P. A. Huxley
Affiliation:
University of Reading, Department of Agriculture and Horticulture, Plant Environment Laboratory, Shinfield, Reading
J. M. Day
Affiliation:
University of Reading, Department of Agriculture and Horticulture, Plant Environment Laboratory, Shinfield, Reading

Summary

Effectively nodulated, pot-grown cowpea plants were irrigated with nutrient solution containing 25 ppm 15N, and the relative contributions to total plant N status of inorganic and nodule-fixed N were determined. Maximum rates of N assimilation occurred during pod-fill, with nodules contributing ten times more nitrogen than the applied source. Symbiotic fixation supplied over 80% of total plant N throughout growth, and contributed significantly to seed N during late pod-fill, when nutrient N assimilation was negligible. Vegetative N content was greatest at mid pod-fill, and mobilization from this 'pool' was equivalent to 44% of total seed N. The implications of these (and previously reported) data are discussed.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1977

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References

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