The effect of soil temperature on nodulation of cowpeas (Vigna sinensis)

Abstract

In two pot experiments at Narrabri, New South Wales, Poona cowpeas (Vigna sinensis) were sown in a black chernozemic soil at 1, 2, and 4 inches, and at 1 1/2 and 4 inches with and without a straw mulch, to give a range of soil temperatures at the depth of sowing. It was found that the higher the soil temperature at sowing depth the lower was the percentage of plants with nodules and the number of nodules per plant.