Soil acidity and nutrient deficiency cause poor legume nodulation in the permanent pasture and mixed farming zones of south-eastern Australia

B.F. Hackney; J. Jenkins; J. Powells; C.E. Edwards; S. De Meyer; J.G. Howieson; R.J. Yates; S.E. Orgill

doi:10.1071/CP19039

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Soil acidity and nutrient deficiency cause poor legume nodulation in the permanent pasture and mixed farming zones of south-eastern Australia

Journal article

Peer reviewed

Soil acidity and nutrient deficiency cause poor legume nodulation in the permanent pasture and mixed farming zones of south-eastern Australia

B.F. Hackney, J. Jenkins, J. Powells, C.E. Edwards, S. De Meyer, J.G. Howieson, R.J. Yates and S.E. Orgill

Crop and Pasture Science, Vol.70(12)

2019

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1071/CP19039

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Abstract

Pasture legumes must be adequately and effectively nodulated in order to reach nitrogen-fixation targets. Of 225 pasture paddocks sampled across the Central Tablelands, Central West, Monaro and Riverina regions of New South Wales, 93% had inadequate legume nodulation. Legume content was significantly higher in the mixed faming zone (>50%, Central West and Riverina) than the permanent pasture zone (26%, Central Tablelands; 28% Monaro). Available phosphorus (P) was below critical levels in 40% of paddocks sampled and sulfur (S) in 73% of paddocks; >35% of all paddocks had soil pHCa <5.0. Deficiency of P was more prevalent in the Central Tablelands (63% of paddocks), whereas S deficiency occurred more frequently in the Central West (95% of paddocks). Legume nodule scores were associated with host legume species, soil pH, available P and/or S, and cation exchange capacity, which collectively accounted for 73% of variation. For Trifolium spp., at soil pHCa >5.55, nodulation was predicted to be near adequate (score 3.95, where adequate = 4). At pHCa <5.55, higher available S resulted in a higher nodulation score (2.42) than in paddocks where S was deficient (score 0–1.97). These results suggest that improving the capacity of legumes to supply nitrogen should focus on addressing soil acidity and plant nutrition, specifically P and S.

Details

Title: Soil acidity and nutrient deficiency cause poor legume nodulation in the permanent pasture and mixed farming zones of south-eastern Australia
Authors/Creators: B.F. Hackney (Author/Creator) - New South Wales Department of Primary Industries
J. Jenkins (Author/Creator) - New South Wales Department of Primary Industries
J. Powells (Author/Creator) - South Eastern Sydney Local Health District
C.E. Edwards (Author/Creator) - Central Tablelands Local Land Services, 112 Market Street, Mudgee, NSW 2850, Australia.
S. De Meyer (Author/Creator) - Murdoch University
J.G. Howieson (Author/Creator) - Murdoch University
R.J. Yates (Author/Creator) - Murdoch University
S.E. Orgill (Author/Creator) - New South Wales Department of Primary Industries
Publication Details: Crop and Pasture Science, Vol.70(12)
Publisher: CSIRO Publishing
Identifiers: 991005542036507891
Copyright: © 2019 CSIRO
Murdoch Affiliation: Centre for Rhizobium Studies
Language: English
Resource Type: Journal article

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Collaboration types: Domestic collaboration
Citation topics: 3 Agriculture, Environment & Ecology; 3.97 Plant Pathology; 3.97.892 Rhizobium-Legume Symbiosis
Web Of Science research areas: Agriculture, Multidisciplinary
ESI research areas: Agricultural Sciences