Abstract

ISLAM, Muhammad; MOHSAN, Saleem  and  ALI, Safdar. Effect of different phosphorus and sulfur levels on nitrogen fixation and uptake by chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.). Agrociencia [online]. 2012, vol.46, n.1, pp.1-12. ISSN 2521-9766.

Nitrogen fxing capacity of leguminous plants can be increased by the supply of adequate amounts of nutrients, especially phosphorus and sulfur. Some nutrients have direct involvement in the process of nitrogen fixation while others afect by improving growth of host plant. Field experiments were conducted at two different locations in northern rainfed Punjab, Pakistan, to assess the amount of nitrogen fixation and nitrogen uptake by chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) during crop growing seasons 2006-2007 and 2007-2008. Treatments were: phosphorus levels (0, 40 and 80 kg P₂O₅ ha^-1); sulfur sources (gypsum and ammonium sulfate) and levels (0, 15 and 30 kg S ha^-1). The experimental design was randomized complete block with split-split plot arrangement: phosphorus levels in main plots, sulfur sources in sub-plots and sulfur levels in sub-sub-plots. Phosphorus (80 kg P₂O₅ ha^-1) increased nitrogen fixed and uptake by 33 and 31 % over control. However, effect of phosphorus on nitrogen derived from atmosphere was not signifcant while that of sulfur was signifcant. Sulfur (30 kg S ha^-1) increased nitrogen derived from atmosphere, amount of nitrogen fixed and nitrogen uptake by 6, 25 and 17 % over control. Ammonium sulfate treatments caused signifcantly higher amount of nitrogen fixed and higher nitrogen uptake as compared to gypsum treatments, although both sulfur sources were similar regarding percent nitrogen derived from atmosphere. A strong positive correlation (R= 0.98**) between amount of nitrogen fixed and nitrogen uptake at both locations was observed. There was a direct effect of sulfur on the process of nitrogen fixation, whereas phosphorus mainly afected growth of chickpea.

Keywords : Cicer arietinum L.; ammonium sulfate; gypsum; natural abundance technique; percent nitrogen derived from atmosphere.