Journal article
Soil acidity and nutrient deficiency cause poor legume nodulation in the permanent pasture and mixed farming zones of south-eastern Australia
Crop and Pasture Science, Vol.70(12)
2019
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 IndustriesJ. Jenkins (Author/Creator) - New South Wales Department of Primary IndustriesJ. Powells (Author/Creator) - South Eastern Sydney Local Health DistrictC.E. Edwards (Author/Creator) - Central Tablelands Local Land Services, 112 Market Street, Mudgee, NSW 2850, Australia.S. De Meyer (Author/Creator) - Murdoch UniversityJ.G. Howieson (Author/Creator) - Murdoch UniversityR.J. Yates (Author/Creator) - Murdoch UniversityS.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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Source: InCites
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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