Back to Contents

FREE FULL TEXT PDF

A COMPARISON OF NITROGEN CONCENTRATION BETWEEN WILD AND CULTIVATED LEGUMES OF SINDH

A. MAHMOOD

Abstract: Estimates of nitrogen concentration in cultivated and wild species of 115 leguminous plants of Sindh are reported. The main aim of this investigation was to find relationship between nitrogen contents of nodulated versus non-nodulated legumes, between wild and cultivated legumes and between herbs, shrubs and tree legumes. Nitrogen concentrations of nodulated plants were found significantly higher (p<0.05) than nonnodulated plants. Nitrogen concentrations of cultivated plants were marginally better (p<0.l) when compared with wild plants. Nitrogen contents of herbs and shrubs showed a significant correlation (p < 0.05). This relationship was non-significant between herbs and trees and between shrubs and trees. Nitrogen concentrations of the leguminous plants were also correlated with soil texture, soil pH and nodulation frequency. Nodulation frequency did not bear significant correlation with soil textural type but showed a significant correlation with soil pH (p<0.0l). Nitrogen concentration showed a significant relationship with soil pH (p<0.0l) and with nodulation frequency (p<0.0l). The significance of wild legumes growing in natural ecosystems of Sindh is discussed.

Department of Botany, University of Karachi, Karachi-75270, Pakistan.