The influence of nitrogen nutrition of Desmodium uncinatum on seed production

Abstract

Desmodium uncinaium cv. Silverleaf was grown in simulated swards well supplied with water and basal nutrients. Nodulated control swards yielded 179 g m-2; whole plant nitrogen accretion was 25 g m-2. The rate of nitrogen uptake decreased during seed maturation and redistribution of nitrogen from leaf, stem, and raceme was inadequate to meet the nitrogen demand of maturing seeds. Ammonium nitrate applied at 16.9 kg nitrogen ha-1 wk-1 from the immediate pre-floral initiation stage or at later development stages increased seed yield by 21 to 31 % according to timing. Applied nitrogen increased the number of racemes differentiated per runner and the size of seeds, and decreased the number of seeds formed per floral node. Components of seed yield such as raceme number per runner, floral nodes per raceme, seeds per node, and seed weight were influenced by position on the plant. The greater part of the ammonium nitrate response was due to increased seed production from the secondary racemes on the larger primary runners.