Perennial winged bean yield and nitrogen fixation improvement with soil fertility treatments of a typic eutrustox

Abstract

The perennial legume, Winged Bean (Psophocarpus tetragonolobus (L) DC), has potential as a high protein food crop for the humid, tropical regions of the world. Edible seed pods, oil seed grain, leaves, flowers, and unique high protein tubers provide abundant nutritious components desirable for improved human diets. However, soil characteristics and fertility levels influence plant growth, yields and nitrogen fixation capability of this legume. Objectives of this study were to determine soil‐plant nutrient influences on vigorous regrowth, pod and tuber yields, nitrogenase (C₂H₂ red.) activity levels, and nodule cytosol components of the perennial Siempre cultivar grown on a Typic Eutrustox during three years, 1978–1980.

Available soil phosphorus was a first limiting plant nutrient during all three years of plant age. Effects of combined 100 mg P with 200 mg K/kg soil were highly significant for every parameter and plant age. Pod and seed yields more than doubled with PK addition compared to the check. Tuber growth, nodule mass and nitrogenase activity levels more than trebled with PK treatments as compared to the check. Both elemental P and K were significantly increased within the nodule cytosol of fertilized plants. Cytosol Na was significantly decreased with soil K additions. The best fit multiple regression was: nitrogenase = 1.99 nodule wt. + 6.34 tuber wt. + 0.39 tuber % N + 5.08 cytosol P + 1.55 cytosol K ‐ 0.45 cytosol Na, R² = 95.5, C.V. = 11.2%. The dominant nodule cytosol enzymes, aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and glutamine synthetase (GS), significantly increased with soil K additions regardless of P treatments. Glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH) and glutamate synthase (GOGAT) also contributed significantly with multiple regression for nitrogenase = 1.07 GS + 2.1 AST + 1.74 GOGAT ‐ 1.76 GDH + 12.89 Ureide, R² = .89, C.V. = 17.3%. Highly significant increases in nodule cytosol ureide composition with K soil additions has interest because of the role as a nitrogenous nonprotein component for many legumes. Increases in growth, nodulation and nitrogenase activity levels resulted with increased K levels of 0, 100, 200 and 300 mg K/kg soil when soil P and Ca were not limiting.

Key words:

• Psophocarpus tetragonolobus (L.) DC
• Rhizobium leguminosarum Frank
• Nitrogenase activity levels (C₂H₂ reduction)