Low nodulation and nitrogen fixation of mungbean reduce biomass and grain yields
D. F. Herridge A F , M. J. Robertson B , B. Cocks C , M. B. Peoples D , J. F. Holland A and L. Heuke EA NSW Department of Primary Industries, Tamworth Centre for Crop Improvement, RMB 944, Tamworth, NSW 2340, Australia.
B CSIRO Sustainable Ecosystems, Agricultural Production Systems Research Unit, 120 Meiers Road, Indooroopilly, Qld 4068, Australia.
C CSIRO Sustainable Ecosystems, Agricultural Production Systems Research Unit, 203 Tor Street, Toowoomba, Qld 4350, Australia.
D CSIRO Plant Industry, PO Box 1600, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia.
E NSW Department of Primary Industries, Australian Cotton Research Institute, PMB, Narrabri, NSW 2390, Australia.
F Corresponding author. Email: david.herridge@agric.nsw.gov.au
Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture 45(3) 269-277 https://doi.org/10.1071/EA03130
Submitted: 26 June 2003 Accepted: 10 November 2003 Published: 14 April 2005
Abstract
Apparent nodulation failures and associated low grain yields have been reported for commercial mungbean (Vigna radiata) crops in southern Queensland and northern New South Wales. We therefore conducted on-farm surveys of 40 commercial mungbean crops in the region in which symbiotic traits, i.e. nodulation and nitrogen fixation, and biomass and grain yield were monitored. Effects of bradyrhizobial inoculation and inoculation methods on mungbean and soybean (Glycine max) symbiosis and yield were determined in experiments at 3 sites in northern New South Wales. Thirty-four of the 35 mungbean crops assessed for nodulation were nodulated. The relationship between soil nitrate to a depth of 90 cm at sowing and mungbean nodulation was not significant. However, at low-to-moderate soil nitrate levels (<100 kg N/ha), the mean nodule score was 1.6, compared with 0.5 at high (>100 kg N/ha) soil nitrate levels. Soil nitrate had a negative effect on the percentage of mungbean nitrogen derived from nitrogen fixation (%Ndfa). Mean %Ndfa values for soil nitrate levels <50, >50–100 and >100 kg N/ha were 35, 22 and 19% respectively. Grain yields of the surveyed mungbean crops varied from 0.3 to 2.1 t/ha, and were correlated with shoot dry matter. Grain yield was not significantly correlated either with sowing soil nitrate, nodule score or %Ndfa.
In the inoculation experiments, mungbean did not nodulate as well as soybean, producing about one-third the number of nodules. Both species responded to inoculation with increased nodulation, although data from one of the sites suggested that responses during early growth of mungbean were not maintained during pod-fill. Effects of inoculation on mungbean %Ndfa were marginal. Average increases were 9%, based on natural 15N abundance, and 6%, based on the ureide method. Soybean %Ndfa, on the other hand, responded strongly to inoculation, with increases of 56 (15N) and 77% (ureide). Inoculation increased mungbean crop N by an average of 10% and grain yield by 6%, compared with responses to fertiliser nitrogen of 31% (crop N) and 10% (grain yield). For soybean, inoculation increased crop nitrogen by 43% and grain yield by 7%, similar to responses to fertiliser nitrogen of 45 (crop N) and 5% (grain yield).
These results suggest that inoculated mungbean was N-limited and that inoculation of mungbean using current technology may be somewhat ineffectual. We concluded that low nodulation and nitrogen fixation of commercial mungbean most likely results from the suppressive effects of nitrate and/or insufficient numbers of bradyrhizobia in the soil. When low symbiosis and low soil nitrate are combined, N is likely to limit crop growth, and potentially grain yield. Suggested strategies for improving mungbean nodulation and nitrogen fixation in the northern grains belt include selection of more symbiotically competent plant and bradyrhizobial genotypes and more effective utilisation of established soil populations of mungbean bradyrhizobia.
Additional keywords: bradyrhizobia, inoculation.
Acknowledgments
We acknowledge the skilled technical assistance of Robyn Shapland, Karen Cassin and Bevan Blanche (NSW Agriculture), and Gayle Williams (CSIRO Plant Industry). We gratefully acknowledge the resources provided by the various agencies (NSW Agriculture, CSIRO Plant Industry, CSIRO Sustainable Ecosystems) and external funding via the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research.
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