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Characteristics of Rhizobium trifolii Populations Associated with Subclover in Mississippi Soils
Author(s) -
Hagedorn C.,
Ardahl A. H.,
Materon L. A.
Publication year - 1983
Publication title -
soil science society of america journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.836
H-Index - 168
eISSN - 1435-0661
pISSN - 0361-5995
DOI - 10.2136/sssaj1983.03615995004700060018x
Subject(s) - trifolium subterraneum , biology , agronomy , soil fertility , population , nitrogen fixation , rhizobium , soil water , pasture , horticulture , ecology , inoculation , bacteria , genetics , demography , sociology
Indigenous Rhizobium trifolii populations that would nodulate Trifolium subterraneum L. (cv. Mt. Barker) were isolated and characterized from pastures with and without subclover in five distinct soil regions in Mississippi. Considerable variation in effectiveness was found among isolates from the different areas and from individual sampling sites within areas, and the combined results indicated that subclover production and soil fertility levels were related and were being better maintained within two of the sampling areas. Pastures without clover yielded small R. trifolii populations that were poorly effective in N fixation on subclover. Significant correlations were found between the Rhizobium population size and soil N levels, soil texture, organic matter content, and exchangeable acidity. Isolate effectiveness was associated with the amount of base saturation, soil acidity, and N levels. These results are discussed in the context of subclover production as related to Rhizobium effectiveness, population size, and soil fertility characteristics.