Hostname: page-component-76fb5796d-r6qrq Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-04-28T10:38:15.319Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

SCREENING OF SESBANIA FOR TOLERANCE TO ALUMINUM TOXICITY AND SYMBIOTIC EFFECTIVENESS WITH ACID TOLERANT RHIZOBIA STRAINS IN ACID SOIL IN WESTERN KENYA

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  11 August 2009

S. O. GUDU
Affiliation:
Moi University, Chepkoilel Campus, P. O. Box 1125–30100, Eldoret, Kenya
P. O. KISINYO*
Affiliation:
Moi University, Chepkoilel Campus, P. O. Box 1125–30100, Eldoret, Kenya
E. T. MAKATIANI
Affiliation:
Kenya Forestry Research Institute (KEFRI), P. O. Box 20412, Nairobi, Kenya
D. W ODEE
Affiliation:
Kenya Forestry Research Institute (KEFRI), P. O. Box 20412, Nairobi, Kenya
J. F. O. ESEGU
Affiliation:
Forestry Research Institute (FORRI), P. O. Box 1752, Kampala, Uganda
S. A. O. SHAMCHAMA
Affiliation:
Sokoine University of Agriculture, Faculty of Forestry and Nature Conservation, P. O. Box 3010 Chuo Kikuu, Morogoro, Tanzania
C. O. OTHIENO
Affiliation:
Moi University, Chepkoilel Campus, P. O. Box 1125–30100, Eldoret, Kenya
J. R. OKALEBO
Affiliation:
Moi University, Chepkoilel Campus, P. O. Box 1125–30100, Eldoret, Kenya
J. R. OSIYO
Affiliation:
Moi University, Chepkoilel Campus, P. O. Box 1125–30100, Eldoret, Kenya
J. O. OWUOCHE
Affiliation:
Moi University, Chepkoilel Campus, P. O. Box 1125–30100, Eldoret, Kenya
*
††Corresponding author: kisinyopeter@yahoo.com

Summary

Nitrogen fixation by leguminous trees such as sesbania (Sesbania sesban) in acid soils is limited by aluminium (Al) toxicity and phosphorus (P) deficiency. We screened 214 East African sesbania accessions for Al toxicity tolerance, P use efficiency and sesbania–rhizobia symbiosis. Aluminium toxicity tolerance or sensitivity was measured by the relative root elongation index. Highly Al tolerant and sensitive accessions were screened for P use efficiency. Highly P use efficient and Al sensitive accessions were assessed for symbiotic effectiveness with acid tolerant rhizobia. Eighty-eight per cent of the accessions were Al toxicity tolerant. High Al levels reduced shoot P content by 88% and total dry matter (TDM) by 83%. P addition increased shoot P content and TDM. Rhizobia inoculation increased nodulation by 28–82%, shoot N content by 28–45% and TDM by 15–34% in the low rhizobia density acid soil of Bumala, Kenya. P use efficient accessions had higher nodulation, shoot N content and TDM in the ranges 32–70, 20–52 and 22–36%, respectively, compared to sensitive genotypes. The combination of sesbania accession (SSUG10) and rhizobia strain ASs48 was superior in shoot N accumulation. Inoculation of P use efficient germplasm with acid tolerant rhizobia can improve N-rich biomass accumulation suitable for N replenishment in acid soils.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2009

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

REFERENCES

Almeida, J. E., Valarini, M. J. and Lopes, E. S. (1981). Response of Leucaena leucocephala to inoculation to a soil of pH 5.5. In Leucaena leucocephala Biological Nitrogen Fixation for Tropical Agriculture, 455457. (Eds Graham, P. M. and Harris, S. C.). Cali, Colombia: CIAT.Google Scholar
de Miranda, L. N. and Rowell, D. L (1988). Aluminum-phosphate interactions in wheat. New Physiologist 113:712CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Buysse, W. (2006). Genstat Discovery 2nd Edition. ICRAF-ILRI Research Methods Group, Nairobi, Kenya. CD version 30 September 2007Google Scholar
Giller, K. E. and Wilson, K. J. (1991). Nitrogen Fixation in Tropical Cropping Systems. Wallingford, UK: CAB International.Google Scholar
Gudu, S. O. and Odago, P. (2003). Screening of Calliandra and Sesbania for tolerance to aluminum toxicity and phosphorus deficiency. A paper presented at the ARF Project Completion Workshop 1–4th Dec. 2003 at KEFRI HQ, Kenya.Google Scholar
Howieson, J. G. and Ewing, M. A. (1986). Acid tolerance in the Rhizobium meliloti-Medicago symbiosis. Australian Journal of Agricultural Research 37: 153155.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kanyanjua, S. M., Ireri, L., Wambua, S. and Nandwa, S. M. (2002). Acid soils in Kenya: Constraints and remedial options. KARI Technical Note No.11.Google Scholar
Keyser, H. H and Munns, M. M. (1979). Tolerance of Rhizobia to acidity, Al and phosphates. Soil Science Society of America Journal 43:519526.Google Scholar
Kiptot, E. (2006). Seeing beyond fertilizer trees: A case study of community participatory approach to agroforestry research and development in western Kenya. PhD Thesis, Wageningen University, The Netherlands.Google Scholar
Kisinyo, P. O., Othieno, C. O., Okalebo, J. R., Kipsat, M. J., Serem, A. K. and Obiero, D. O. (2005). Effects of lime and phosphorus application on early growth of leucaena in acid soils. Proceedings of the 7th African Crop Science Conference, Entebbe, Uganda, 5–9 December 2005, 1233–1236.Google Scholar
Kusekwa, M. L., Msafiri, D. N., Mwilawa, A. J., Ngowi, M. D., Kyamanywa, R. S and Ulime, C. R. (1993). Evaluation of Sesbania species in semi-arid central Tanzania. In Collaborative Research on Sesbania in East and Southern Africa, 17 (Eds Kategile, J. A. and Adoutan, S. B.). African Feed Research Network, ILCA, Kenya.Google Scholar
Kochian, L. V. (1995). Cellular mechanism of aluminum toxicity and resistance in plants. Annual Review of Plant Physiology 46: 237260.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Landon, J. R. (1991). Booker Tropical Soil Manual: A Handbook For Soil Survey and Agricultural Land Evaluation in the Tropics and Subtropics. Harlow: Longman Scientific and Technical.Google Scholar
Makatiani, E. T. and Odee, D. W. (2007). Response of Sesbania sesban (L.) Merr. to rhizobial inoculation in an N-deficient soil containing low numbers of effective indigenous rhizobia. Agroforestry Systems 70: 211216.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Mugwira, L. M. and Haque, I. (1993). Screening forage and browse legume germplasm to nutrient stress: III. Tolerance of sesbanias to Al and low P in acid soils and nutrient solutions. Journal of Plant Nutrition 16: 5166.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Mulongoy, K. and Ayanaba, A. (1986). Dynamics of the population sizes of cowpea and soybean rhizobia at three locations in West Africa. MIRCEN Journal 2: 301308.Google Scholar
Muok, B. O. (1997). Isolation, molecular characterization and screening of indigenous rhizobium for acid tolerance and effectiveness on leucaena, calliandra and sesbania. MSc Thesis, Moi University, Kenya.Google Scholar
Okalebo, J. R., Gathua, K. W. and Woomer, P. L. (2002). Laboratory Methods of Soil Analysis: A Working Manual, 2nd edn. TSBR-CIAT and SACRED Africa, Nairobi, Kenya.Google Scholar
Okalebo, J. R., Simpson, J. R., Okwach, E. G., Probert, M. E. and McCrown, L. R. (1997). Conservation of soil fertility under intensive maize cropping in semi-arid eastern Kenya. Proceedings of the Third African Crop Science Conference, 1 October 1997, Pretoria, South Africa, 429–438.Google Scholar
Sanginga, N., Danso, S. K. A., Zapata, F. and Bowen, B. G. (1995). Phosphorus requirement and nitrogen accumulation by N2 fixing and non N2 fixing legume trees in low P soils. Biology and Fertility of Soils 20: 205–21.Google Scholar
Sierra, J., Noel, C., Dufour, L., Ozier-Lafontaine, H., Welcker, C. and Desfontaines, L. (2003). Mineral nutrition and growth of tropical maize as affected by the soil acidity. Plant and Soil 252: 215226.Google Scholar
Tisdale, S. and Nelson, W. (1975). Soil Fertility and Fertilizers, 3rd edn. 7173, New York: Macmillan.Google Scholar
van Straaten, P. (2002). Rocks for Crops: Agrominerals for sub-Saharan Africa. Nairobi, Kenya: ICRAF.Google Scholar
Zhu, Y. G., Smith, E., Howes, N. K. and Smith, F. A. (2001). Phosphorus uptake efficiency of double haploid line of wheat derived from parents with different P up take efficiency, 70–71 In Plant Nutrition-Food Security and Sustainability of Agro-Ecosystems, (Eds Horst, W. J., Schenk, M. K., Bürkert, A., Claaseen, N., Flessa, H., Frommer, W. B., Goldbach, H., Olfs, H.-W., Römheld, V., Sattelmacher, B., Schmidhalter, U., Schubert, S., Wirén, N. V. and Wittenmayer, L.). Dordrecht: Springer.Google Scholar