P ‐ Mo interactions on the yield and nodulation of white clover grown on limed‐lignite overburden materials

Abstract

A greenhouse study using lignite overburden surface soil from a lignite mine in northwest Louisiana was conducted to determine the yield response and nodulation of inoculated and non‐inoculated white clover (Trifolium repens L.) to P (0, 40, and 80 kg/ha) and Mo (0, 90, and 180 g/ha) fertilization. Results manifested a highly significant response of inoculated white clover to a single application of P and Mo. Application of P at the rate of 40 and 80 kg/ha increased the dry matter yield (DMY) of white clover by 164% and 154%, while Mo fertilization at the rate of 90 and 180 g/ha increased the dry matter yield (DMY) by 21% and 37%, respectively, over the control. The yield of white clover was also significantly affected by Rhizobium inoculation. Yield was increased from 2.1 to 2.5 Mg/ha which is equivalent to a 19% yield improvement over the non‐inoculated plants.

Nodule formation (NF), likewise, was significantly favored by P and Mo fertilization. Results also revealed that Rhizobium inoculation had remarkably improved the nodule count of white clover. Nodule count was increased from 0.4 to 5.5 or 1375% improvement between the inoculated and non‐inoculated plants. The non‐inoculated white clover also responded significantly to P fertilization, but not to Mo addition. Nodule formation, however, was not observed from the non‐inoculated white clover except at the highest rate of P and Mo additions. Increasing P supply significantly increased the concentrations of P, S, Na, and Ca but decreased the concentration of K in the clover. Mo additions resulted in increased concentrations of P and Ca. No significant P‐Mo interaction effects were observed on the nutrient concentration of white clover.