New Zealand Journal of Crop and Horticultural Science abstracts
Nodulation by Frankia increases growth of Casuarinaceae in a New Zealand
horticultural soil
B. T. BULLOCH
Manaaki Whenua -- Landcare Research
Private Bag 11052
Palmerston North, New Zealand
Abstract Casuarina cunninghamiana and C. glauca
are widely used for shelterbelts in New Zealand and have other utilitarian
potential. Their nitrogen (N)-fixing Frankia symbiont does not occur
naturally in New Zealand soils. Plants nodulated after artificial inoculation
with Frankia culture HFPCcI3 were planted on a
horticultural-quality Manawatu silt loam soil near Palmerston North. After 6-8
years, trees nodulated at planting were significantly larger in stem diameter
and height (equivalent to 16-61% additional volume) over trees not nodulated at
planting. Nodulated trees were also rated higher for vigour. Excavation of root
systems revealed that nodules were confined to the residual zone of potting
media around the original seedling root systems and there was no evidence of
Frankia spreading through the soil to infect nearby roots. More
widespread availability of Frankia inoculum in the soil being explored
by feeder roots might have increased nodulation and subsequent tree growth, but
New Zealand soil temperatures are suboptimal for Casuarinaceae nodulation and N
fixation.
Keywords Casuarinaceae; Frankia; shelterbelts; fuelwood;
horticultural soil
PDF file of entire paper: medium quality (491K); (scanned from paper original: notes about this process)
This year's abstracts |
Journal home page |
All abstracts |
Publishing home page
