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Variation in growth and nodulation of cowpea (Vignaunguiculata), blackgram (Vignamungo), mungbean (Vignaradiata), groundnut (Arachishypogaea) and Bambara groundnut (Vignasubterranean) grown at low and high rainfall areas of South Africa
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Abstracts
steps involved in the technical aspects of the digitization and markup processes used in the e-Flora of South Africa project are presented. doi:10.1016/j.sajb.2015.03.153
Variation in growth and nodulation of cowpea (Vignaunguiculata), blackgram (Vignamungo), mungbean (Vignaradiata), groundnut (Arachishypogaea) and Bambara groundnut (Vignasubterranean) grown at low and high rainfall areas of South Africa M.D. Lengwatia, S.T. Masekob, C. Mathewsb, F.D. Dakorac a Department of Agriculture, Rural Development, Land and Environmental Affairs, Private Bag X11219, Nelspruit 1200, South Africa b Department of Crop Sciences, Department of Chemistry, Tshwane University of Technology, 175 Nelson Mandela Drive, Private Bag X680, Pretoria 0001, South Africa c Department of Chemistry, Tshwane University of Technology, 175 Nelson Mandela Drive, Private Bag X680, Pretoria 0001, South Africa In Mpumalanga Province of South Africa, cowpea, blackgram, groundnuts, Bambara groundnuts and mungbeans are cultivated largely by small-scale farmers under rain-fed conditions. These crops contribute to the food security and nutrition as they are a source of protein but importantly, these grain legumes improve the fertility of soils under low input systems through the contribution of N and P. The rainfall under which these grain legumes are grown is variable and can be low or high within a growing season. The study areas, for example Gembokspruit, have low annual rainfall of about 250 mm– 350 mm whilst Mbombela receives higher rainfall of 450 mm– 520 mm. The study was carried out to assess the growth and nodulation of the five test grain legumes grown under low and high rainfall areas. Grain legumes were established at Gembokspruit which received 350 mm rainfall, as well as at the Lowveld Research Station which received 520 mm rainfall, under rain-fed, with no fertilization or inoculation in the 2011/2012 cropping season. Data revealed marked differences in dry matter yield of shoots and roots between the test legumes. Of the five grain legumes established at the Lowveld Research Station, Mbombela, blackgram exhibited a significantly greater dry root mass compared to the other four legumes which showed similar dry root mass. Growth, determined as shoot dry matter yield, was however greater in Bambara groundnut, followed by groundnut, blackgram and least in cowpea and mungbean. Nodulation in cowpea, blackgram, mungbean, groundnut and Bambara groundnut grown at the Mbombela experimental site was more than 2-fold greater compared to that at Gembokspruit. Similarly, the five grain legumes established at the Mbombela area produced pods that were 2-fold more than at the Gembokspruit area. Overall, the growth and nodulation of the five test grain legumes were affected by rainfall. doi:10.1016/j.sajb.2015.03.154
Estimating N2 fixation in 26 chickpea (Cicer arentinum L.) genotypes using 15N natural abundance: Effect of genotype × environment interaction M.P. Makhuraa, C. Mathewsa, F.D. Dakorab a Department of Crop Sciences, Tshwane University of Technology, Private Bag X680, Pretoria 0001, South Africa b Department of Chemistry, Tshwane University of Technology, Private Bag X680, Pretoria 0001, South Africa Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) is grown mostly for its easily digestible quality protein and nitrogen fixing capability that improves soil fertility.
Although chickpea is not yet grown commercially in South Africa, Mpumalanga is one of the provinces where it is planted by smallholder farmers. Mpumalanga Province is characterized by two contrasting environments, namely; the Lowveld (with high rainfall and high temperature) and the Highveld (which is known for its low rainfall, low temperatures and drier winters). In each region, 26 kabuli chickpea genotypes were planted in order to select genotypes that show improved plant growth and high N2 fixation for use in South Africa. In two years of experimentation, field trials were laid out in a randomized complete block design with four replicate plots per genotype. The rows were spaced at 50 cm apart and seeds planted at 10 cm apart. At 50% flowering, five plants were excavated, and separated into roots and shoots. The shoots were oven-dried at 60 °C, weighed and finely ground (0.45 mm) for 15N/14N isotopic analysis using mass spectrometry. Nonlegume plant species were sampled and used as reference plants for determining soil N uptake by the legume. Across the board, few chickpea genotypes obtained over 50% of their N nutrition from symbiosis. In fact, only eleven genotypes at the Lowveld and three at Highveld could meet more than 50% of their N requirements from symbiotic fixation in 2011. As a result, only 12 and two genotypes could obtain more N from symbiosis than soil at the Lowveld and Highveld, respectively in 2011. In 2012, however six and 19 genotypes derived more N from symbiosis than soil, clearly indicating that the variation in symbiotic performance was not due to the inefficiency of the Mesorhizobium ciceri strain used as inoculant, but rather to soil and other environmental factors. Regression analysis done between δ15N and soil N uptake revealed a significantly marked increase in δ15N in chickpea shoots with soil N uptake by the legume at all experimental sites for two cropping seasons. As a result, %Ndfa was markedly decreased by soil N uptake in chickpea at each site during the two years of experimentation. Taken together, the results suggest that there was inhibition of N2 fixation by soil N uptake in the chickpea genotypes. Thus, the variation in growth and symbiotic performance of chickpea at each location could, in part, be attributed to the inhibitory effect of soil N uptake on nitrogenase activity in N2-fixing nodules. doi:10.1016/j.sajb.2015.03.155
Ethnobotanical profile of indigenous tree species protected within agricultural farming system of Mutale Local Municipality, Limpopo Province, South Africa G. Malunga, M.P. Tshisikhawe Department of Botany, School of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, University of Venda, Private Bag X5050, Thohoyandou 0950, South Africa Conservation of diversity on farm and in forest and protected areas is likely to back up food and agricultural security options for the future, because people depend on plants for their livelihood. The main objective of this research was to investigate the ethnobotanical importance of indigenous trees protected within the agricultural farming system. Indigenous tree species were recorded and classified into families, parts used and their utilization purposes. Twenty two agricultural fields were visited and nineteen species were recorded. The 19 species were classified into sixteen families with Fabaceae, Combretaceae, Capparaceae being the dominating families. Sclerecarya birrea plant species belonging to the Anacardiaceae family was the plant species which was well represented in the agricultural farming fields, occurring in 21 farms of 22, followed by Adansonia digitata found in 19 farms of 22 belonging to the Malvaceae family, and Bosciaalbitrunca, Maeruaangolensis found in 16 and 15 of 22 farms, both belonging to the Capparaceae family respectively. The used categories recorded revealed the use of tree
Abstracts
steps involved in the technical aspects of the digitization and markup processes used in the e-Flora of South Africa project are presented. doi:10.1016/j.sajb.2015.03.153
Variation in growth and nodulation of cowpea (Vignaunguiculata), blackgram (Vignamungo), mungbean (Vignaradiata), groundnut (Arachishypogaea) and Bambara groundnut (Vignasubterranean) grown at low and high rainfall areas of South Africa M.D. Lengwatia, S.T. Masekob, C. Mathewsb, F.D. Dakorac a Department of Agriculture, Rural Development, Land and Environmental Affairs, Private Bag X11219, Nelspruit 1200, South Africa b Department of Crop Sciences, Department of Chemistry, Tshwane University of Technology, 175 Nelson Mandela Drive, Private Bag X680, Pretoria 0001, South Africa c Department of Chemistry, Tshwane University of Technology, 175 Nelson Mandela Drive, Private Bag X680, Pretoria 0001, South Africa In Mpumalanga Province of South Africa, cowpea, blackgram, groundnuts, Bambara groundnuts and mungbeans are cultivated largely by small-scale farmers under rain-fed conditions. These crops contribute to the food security and nutrition as they are a source of protein but importantly, these grain legumes improve the fertility of soils under low input systems through the contribution of N and P. The rainfall under which these grain legumes are grown is variable and can be low or high within a growing season. The study areas, for example Gembokspruit, have low annual rainfall of about 250 mm– 350 mm whilst Mbombela receives higher rainfall of 450 mm– 520 mm. The study was carried out to assess the growth and nodulation of the five test grain legumes grown under low and high rainfall areas. Grain legumes were established at Gembokspruit which received 350 mm rainfall, as well as at the Lowveld Research Station which received 520 mm rainfall, under rain-fed, with no fertilization or inoculation in the 2011/2012 cropping season. Data revealed marked differences in dry matter yield of shoots and roots between the test legumes. Of the five grain legumes established at the Lowveld Research Station, Mbombela, blackgram exhibited a significantly greater dry root mass compared to the other four legumes which showed similar dry root mass. Growth, determined as shoot dry matter yield, was however greater in Bambara groundnut, followed by groundnut, blackgram and least in cowpea and mungbean. Nodulation in cowpea, blackgram, mungbean, groundnut and Bambara groundnut grown at the Mbombela experimental site was more than 2-fold greater compared to that at Gembokspruit. Similarly, the five grain legumes established at the Mbombela area produced pods that were 2-fold more than at the Gembokspruit area. Overall, the growth and nodulation of the five test grain legumes were affected by rainfall. doi:10.1016/j.sajb.2015.03.154
Estimating N2 fixation in 26 chickpea (Cicer arentinum L.) genotypes using 15N natural abundance: Effect of genotype × environment interaction M.P. Makhuraa, C. Mathewsa, F.D. Dakorab a Department of Crop Sciences, Tshwane University of Technology, Private Bag X680, Pretoria 0001, South Africa b Department of Chemistry, Tshwane University of Technology, Private Bag X680, Pretoria 0001, South Africa Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) is grown mostly for its easily digestible quality protein and nitrogen fixing capability that improves soil fertility.
Although chickpea is not yet grown commercially in South Africa, Mpumalanga is one of the provinces where it is planted by smallholder farmers. Mpumalanga Province is characterized by two contrasting environments, namely; the Lowveld (with high rainfall and high temperature) and the Highveld (which is known for its low rainfall, low temperatures and drier winters). In each region, 26 kabuli chickpea genotypes were planted in order to select genotypes that show improved plant growth and high N2 fixation for use in South Africa. In two years of experimentation, field trials were laid out in a randomized complete block design with four replicate plots per genotype. The rows were spaced at 50 cm apart and seeds planted at 10 cm apart. At 50% flowering, five plants were excavated, and separated into roots and shoots. The shoots were oven-dried at 60 °C, weighed and finely ground (0.45 mm) for 15N/14N isotopic analysis using mass spectrometry. Nonlegume plant species were sampled and used as reference plants for determining soil N uptake by the legume. Across the board, few chickpea genotypes obtained over 50% of their N nutrition from symbiosis. In fact, only eleven genotypes at the Lowveld and three at Highveld could meet more than 50% of their N requirements from symbiotic fixation in 2011. As a result, only 12 and two genotypes could obtain more N from symbiosis than soil at the Lowveld and Highveld, respectively in 2011. In 2012, however six and 19 genotypes derived more N from symbiosis than soil, clearly indicating that the variation in symbiotic performance was not due to the inefficiency of the Mesorhizobium ciceri strain used as inoculant, but rather to soil and other environmental factors. Regression analysis done between δ15N and soil N uptake revealed a significantly marked increase in δ15N in chickpea shoots with soil N uptake by the legume at all experimental sites for two cropping seasons. As a result, %Ndfa was markedly decreased by soil N uptake in chickpea at each site during the two years of experimentation. Taken together, the results suggest that there was inhibition of N2 fixation by soil N uptake in the chickpea genotypes. Thus, the variation in growth and symbiotic performance of chickpea at each location could, in part, be attributed to the inhibitory effect of soil N uptake on nitrogenase activity in N2-fixing nodules. doi:10.1016/j.sajb.2015.03.155
Ethnobotanical profile of indigenous tree species protected within agricultural farming system of Mutale Local Municipality, Limpopo Province, South Africa G. Malunga, M.P. Tshisikhawe Department of Botany, School of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, University of Venda, Private Bag X5050, Thohoyandou 0950, South Africa Conservation of diversity on farm and in forest and protected areas is likely to back up food and agricultural security options for the future, because people depend on plants for their livelihood. The main objective of this research was to investigate the ethnobotanical importance of indigenous trees protected within the agricultural farming system. Indigenous tree species were recorded and classified into families, parts used and their utilization purposes. Twenty two agricultural fields were visited and nineteen species were recorded. The 19 species were classified into sixteen families with Fabaceae, Combretaceae, Capparaceae being the dominating families. Sclerecarya birrea plant species belonging to the Anacardiaceae family was the plant species which was well represented in the agricultural farming fields, occurring in 21 farms of 22, followed by Adansonia digitata found in 19 farms of 22 belonging to the Malvaceae family, and Bosciaalbitrunca, Maeruaangolensis found in 16 and 15 of 22 farms, both belonging to the Capparaceae family respectively. The used categories recorded revealed the use of tree