Evaluation of Rhizobium inoculant formulations for alfalfa yield and N fixation

2007 ◽  
Vol 87 (2) ◽  
pp. 267-272 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Diane Knight
Keyword(s):  
High Risk ◽  
Medicago Sativa ◽  
Sinorhizobium Meliloti ◽  
The Other ◽  
N Fixation ◽  
Biological N Fixation ◽  
Small Seed ◽  
Alfalfa Seed ◽  
Medicago Sativa L

Because of its small seed size, alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) typically is seeded at a shallow depth, putting Rhizobium inoculated onto the seed coat at a high risk of desiccation. Granular inoculants may provide a superior delivery formulation for Rhizobium because the inoculant can be placed deeper in the soil than the seed, where it is protected from desiccation. Sinorhizobium meliloti cv. Beaver delivered as (1) pre-inoculated alfalfa seed from the inoculant manufacturer, (2) commercial peat-based, self-sticking inoculant applied on-site, and (3) granular inoculant placed with the seed or (4) banded below and to the side of the seed was evaluated against uninoculated alfalfa controls at three field sites in Saskatchewan. Overall, alfalfa inoculated with the granular formulation placed below and to the side of the alfalfa seed was among the highest biomass producer in the establishment year, although it did not exhibit superior nodulation or biological N fixation compared with the other treatments. Any advantage conferred by the granular inoculant in the establishment year did not persist through the first and second production years. Under the conditions of this study, the delivery formulation had no long-term affect on alfalfa productivity, nodulation and biological N fixation. Furthermore, none of the inoculant treatments were consistently superior to the uninoculated controls. Key words: Alfalfa, granular inoculant, peat inoculant, pre-inoculated seed, Medicago sativa L., Sinorhizobium meliloti

scholarly journals Structure conformational and rheological characterisation of alfalfa seed (Medicago sativa L.) galactomannan

2020 ◽  
pp. 117394
Author(s):  
Thierry Hellebois ◽  
Christos Soukoulis ◽  
Xuan Xu ◽  
Jean-Francois Hausman ◽  
Alexander Shaplov ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Medicago Sativa ◽  
Alfalfa Seed ◽  
Medicago Sativa L

Phosphorus seed coatings for pasture species. II. Comparison of effectiveness of phosphorus applied as seed coatings, drilled or broadcast, in promoting early growth of phalaris (Phalaris aquatica L.) and lucerne (Medicago sativa L.)

1988 ◽  
Vol 39 (3) ◽  
pp. 447 ◽  
Author(s):  
JM Scott ◽  
GJ Blair
Keyword(s):  
Medicago Sativa ◽  
Plant Height ◽  
Early Growth ◽  
The Other ◽  
Fertilizer Treatment ◽  
Seed Coating ◽  
Phalaris Aquatica ◽  
Medicago Sativa L ◽  
Application Methods ◽  
P Sources

The relative efficiency of phosphorus (P) seed coatings and drilled and broadcast applications of P was investigated in a glasshouse experiment conducted with phalaris (Phalaris aquatica L.) and lucerne (Medicago sativa L.) in P-deficient soil. Two P sources (monocalcium phosphate [MCP] and dicalcium phosphate [DCP]) were used at three rates in seed coatings (0, 5 and 10 kg P ha-1) or at six rates each of drilled or broadcast applications (0, 2.5, 5, 10, 20 and 40 kg P ha-1). MCP coatings severely reduced lucerne emergence and hence yield, but had little effect on phalaris emergence. No other fertilizer treatment affected emergence. The height of phalaris plants at 27 days after sowing (d.a.s.) was increased as much by seed coatings containing MCP at 5 kg P ha-1 as by drill or broadcast applications of MCP at 20 kg P ha-1. Plant height of the MCP seed coating treatments was also less variable than the other application methods, suggesting that the coatings provided more uniform access to P. Seed coatings containing DCP at 10 kg P ha-1 increased phalaris plant height more than did drilled or broadcast applications at 40 kg P ha-1, but there was no effect of any DCP treatment on lucerne growth at 27 d.a.s. The relatively large differences observed in plant height between different application methods at 27 d.a.s. diminished over time until, at 57 d.a.s., only small differences were evident. The dry matter yield and P content of both species were increased by increasing rates of MCP, but DCP had little effect at any rate. The reduced differences between the seed coating treatments and the other application methods at harvest may have been due to the limited soil volume of the pots used; further work is necessary in larger soil volumes to determine the significance of the early growth advantage conferred on phalaris by the phosphorus seed coatings, and to find ways of protecting lucerne from soluble P sources during germination.

Nitrogen fixation by subterranean clover (Trifolium subterraneum L.) growing in pure culture and in mixtures with varying densities of lucerne (Medicago sativa L.) or phalaris (Phalaris aquatica L.)

1999 ◽  
Vol 50 (6) ◽  
pp. 1047 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. S. Dear ◽  
M. B. Peoples ◽  
P. S. Cocks ◽  
A. D. Swan ◽  
A. B. Smith
Keyword(s):  
Medicago Sativa ◽  
N2 Fixation ◽  
Pure Culture ◽  
Subterranean Clover ◽  
Trifolium Subterraneum ◽  
Shoot Biomass ◽  
N Fixation ◽  
Mineral N ◽  
Phalaris Aquatica ◽  
Medicago Sativa L

The proportions of biologically fixed (Pfix) plant nitrogen (N) and the total amounts of N2 fixed by subterranean clover (Trifolium subterraneum L.) growing in pure culture and in mixtures with different densities (5, 10, 20, or 40plants/m2) of newly sown phalaris (Phalaris aquatica L.) or lucerne (Medicago sativa L.) were followed over 3 years in a field study using the 15N natural abundance technique. The amount of fixed N in subterranean clover was linearly related to shoot biomass. Over the 3-year period, subterranean clover fixed 23–34 kg N/t shoot biomass compared with 17–29 kg N/t shoot biomass in lucerne. Based on above-ground biomass, pure subterranean clover fixed 314 kg N/ha over the 3 years compared with 420–510 kg N/ha by lucerne–clover mixtures and 143–177 kg N/ha by phalaris–clover mixtures. The superior N2 fixation by the lucerneŒsubterranean clover mixtures was due to the N fixed by the lucerne and the presence of a higher subterranean clover biomass relative to that occurring in the adjacent phalaris plots. In the first year, 92% of subterranean clover shoot N was derived from fixation compared with only 59% of lucerne. The reliance of clover upon fixed N2 remained high (73–95%) throughout the 3 years in all swards, except in pure subterranean clover and lucerne in August 1996 (56 and 64%, respectively). Subterranean clover usually fixed a higher proportion of its N when grown in mixtures with phalaris than with lucerne. The calculated Pfix values for lucerne (47–61% in 1995 and 39–52% in 1996) were consistently lower than in subterranean clover and tended to increase with lucerne density. Although lucerne derived a lower proportion of its N from fixation than subterranean clover, its tissue N concentration was consistently higher, indicating it was effective at scavenging soil mineral N. It was concluded that including lucerne in wheat-belt pastures will increase inputs of fixed N. Although lucerne decreased subterranean clover biomass, it maintained or raised Pfix values compared with pure subterranean clover swards. The presence of phalaris maintained a high dependence on N2 fixation by subterranean clover, but overall these swards fixed less N due to the lower clover herbage yields. Perennial and annual legumes appear compatible if sown in a mix and can contribute more N2 to the system than where the annual is sown alone or with a perennial grass. These findings suggest that increases in the amount of N2 fixed can be achieved through different legume combinations without interfering greatly with the N fixation process. Different combinations may also result in more efficient use of fixed N2 through reduced leaching. Further work looking at combinations of annuals possibly with different maturity times, different annual and perennial legume combinations, and pure combinations of perennial (e.g. lucerne) could be investigated with the aim of maximising N2 fixation and use. Grazing management to encourage clover production in mixtures with phalaris will be necessary before the potential of subterranean clover to contribute fixed N2 in these swards is fully realised.

INHIBITING INFECTION OF ALFALFA SEEDLINGS BY PRATYLENCHUS PENETRANS BY TREATING SEED WITH OXAMYL

1979 ◽  
Vol 59 (2) ◽  
pp. 519-520 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. L. TOWNSHEND ◽  
J. W. POTTER
Keyword(s):  
Medicago Sativa ◽  
Pratylenchus Penetrans ◽  
Alfalfa Seed ◽  
Medicago Sativa L

Seedling alfalfa roots (Medicago sativa L. ’Saranac’) were protected from infection by Pratylenchus penetrans (Cobb) when alfalfa seed was treated with aqueous oxamyl at concentrations exceeding 2000 ppm. No infection occurred after oxamyl treatment at 32 000 ppm. Neither germination nor nodulation of alfalfa was adversely affected by treatment with oxamyl.

EFFECTS OF ESTABLISHMENT METHOD AND A RAPESEED COMPANION CROP ON ALFALFA SEED YIELD

1987 ◽  
Vol 67 (1) ◽  
pp. 263-266 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. WADDINGTON ◽  
N. MALIK
Keyword(s):  
Medicago Sativa ◽  
Seed Production ◽  
Seed Yield ◽  
Brassica Campestris ◽  
Establishment Method ◽  
Alfalfa Seed ◽  
Medicago Sativa L ◽  
Companion Crop

In two experiments at Melfort using alfalfa (Medicago sativa L. ’Beaver’) seeded at a rate of 2 kg ha−1 with and without a Polish rapeseed (Brassica campestris L. ’Candle’) companion crop seeded at 5.5 kg ha−1, rapeseed yields in the establishment year were maximum when alfalfa and rapeseed were mixed and planted in 15-cm rows. Alfalfa showed no consistent seed yield differences between broadcast seeding, seeding in 15- or 61-cm rows, or seeding with or without the companion crop.Key words: Alfalfa, rapeseed, Brassica campestris, seed production

Exploitation of alfalfa seed (Medicago sativa L.) flour into gluten-free rice cookies: Nutritional, antioxidant and quality characteristics

2018 ◽  
Vol 239 ◽  
pp. 679-687 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gianluca Giuberti ◽  
Gabriele Rocchetti ◽  
Samantha Sigolo ◽  
Paola Fortunati ◽  
Luigi Lucini ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Medicago Sativa ◽  
Quality Characteristics ◽  
Gluten Free ◽  
Alfalfa Seed ◽  
Medicago Sativa L

scholarly journals Flowering Dynamics in Alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) Based on Heat Units

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (12) ◽  
Author(s):  
Eduardo Daniel Bolaños-Aguilar ◽  
Christian Huyghe ◽  
Javier Francisco Enríquez-Quiroz
Keyword(s):  
Medicago Sativa ◽  
Environmental Conditions ◽  
Linear Relation ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Reproductive Development ◽  
Environmental Condition ◽  
Flowering Stage ◽  
Seed Harvesting ◽  
Alfalfa Seed ◽  
Medicago Sativa L

Objective: To describe the sequential pattern of reproductive development of Medicago sativa L. (flowering dynamic) using the relation between principal floral stem nodes and accumulated growing degree day (GDD) in different environmental conditions, and to determine the use of this relationship as a predictor of the seed harvesting date. Design/Methodology/Approach: It was carried out in random blocks and factorial arrangement of 2?5, with two repetitions. Each repetition was made up of 30 plants. Results: The flowering dynamic followed the same pattern between varieties, with a linear relation between GDD and number of floral nodes. The year A0 was different from the years A1 and A2. Therefore, A1 with cutting, and A2 with and without cutting presented less GDD during the flowering stage. In contrast, A0 showed more GDD during this period. In the different environmental conditions, the linear curves of flowering dynamic turned erratic after the tenth floral node (300 GDD) due to a low rate of plants with more than 10 floral nodes along the principal stem. Study Limitations/Implications: It is necessary to have a meteorological station near the alfalfa seed production site, in order to specify the GDD required for predicting the correct moment to harvest seeds. Findings/Conclusions: The reproductive development of M. sativa presents a linear relation between the number of floral nodes and GDD, which allows the prediction of the optimal seed harvesting date, in any environmental condition present.

scholarly journals Melatonin Application Improves Salt Tolerance of Alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) by Enhancing Antioxidant Capacity

Plants ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 220 ◽  
Author(s):  
Huifang Cen ◽  
Tingting Wang ◽  
Huayue Liu ◽  
Danyang Tian ◽  
Yunwei Zhang
Keyword(s):  
Antioxidant Enzymes ◽  
Salt Stress ◽  
Salt Tolerance ◽  
Medicago Sativa ◽  
Salt Resistance ◽  
Primary Role ◽  
Waterlogging Tolerance ◽  
Alfalfa Seed ◽  
Mda Content ◽  
Medicago Sativa L

Alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) is an important and widely cultivated forage grass. The productivity and forage quality of alfalfa are severely affected by salt stress. Melatonin is a bioactive molecule with versatile physiological functions and plays important roles in response to various biotic and abiotic stresses. Melatonin has been proven efficient in improving alfalfa drought and waterlogging tolerance in recent studies. In our reports, we applied melatonin exogenously to explore the effects of melatonin on alfalfa growth and salt resistance. The results demonstrated that melatonin application promoted alfalfa seed germination and seedling growth, and reduced oxidative damage under salt stress. Further application research found that melatonin alleviated salt injury in alfalfa plants under salt stress. The electrolyte leakage, malondialdehyde (MDA) content and H2O2 content were significantly reduced, and the activities of catalase (CAT), peroxidase (POD), and Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase (Cu/Zn-SOD) were increased with melatonin pretreatment compared to control plants under salt stress with the upregulation of genes related to melatonin and antioxidant enzymes biosynthesis. Melatonin was also involved in reducing Na+ accumulation in alfalfa plants. Our study indicates that melatonin plays a primary role as an antioxidant in scavenging H2O2 and enhancing activities of antioxidant enzymes to improve the salt tolerance of alfalfa plants.

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