Alfalfa yield and quality as function of nitrogen fertilization and symbiosis with Sinorhizobium meliloti
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1590/S0103-90162004000400013Keywords:
Medicago sativa L., biological nitrogen fixationAbstract
The efficiency of the symbiotic process between alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) and Sinorhizobium meliloti can be drastically affected by soil nitrogen. This research evaluates how mineral fertilization affects the contribution of symbiosis to the yield and quality of alfalfa in two experiments under controlled conditions, and a third one in the field. Under controlled conditions, positive effect of nitrogen fertilizer was observed, whereas, in the field, negative effect of the mineral nitrogen (450 kg ha-1 year-1) on the symbiotic process was observed, with reduction of nodulation and nitrogenase activity. However, there was no effect on yield, total nitrogen concentration, crude protein, non-protein nitrogen and digestibility in relation to the treatment without mineral N. The cultivars showed similar performance under different conditions, with 'Crioula Brasileira' and 'Crioula Chilena' showing the highest yield and 'Pioneer-5454' the highest forage nutritive value.Downloads
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Published
2004-01-01
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Section
Soils and Plant Nutrition
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All content of the journal, except where identified, is licensed under a Creative Common attribution-type BY-NC.How to Cite
Alfalfa yield and quality as function of nitrogen fertilization and symbiosis with Sinorhizobium meliloti . (2004). Scientia Agricola, 61(4), 433-438. https://doi.org/10.1590/S0103-90162004000400013