Calcium fertilization ameliorates growth, yield and quality of hyacinth bean (Lablab purpureus L.).
Conference Paper
H., Khan, M.; Masroor, A.; Naeem, M.; Siddiqui, M. . 2005
رابط المنشور على الويب:
اسم المؤتمر:
Proceedings of the 1st International Edible Legume Conference in conjuction with the IVth World Cowpea Congress,
عنوان المؤتمر:
Durban, South Africa
تاريخ المؤتمر:
الأحد, نيسان (أبريل) 17, 2005
مستخلص المنشور:
Hyacinth bean (Lablab purpureus L.) is one of the important leguminous crops widely cultivated in many regions of the tropics and subtropics. Its seeds and pods contain as much as 20-28% protein and thus serve as a good source of vegetable proteins in human diets. The plant residue is used as a green manure. However, the crop yield is not high, and the low yield of the beans is attributed to the low levels of calcium (Ca) available in the soils. The experiments described here were undertaken in the Department of Botany, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, to study the effect of Ca application on growth, physiology, seed yield and quality attributes of hyacinth bean. The bean plants were grown in pots containing soils, which were supplied Ca, at five levels, viz., 0, 0.2, 0.4, 0.6 and 0.8 g per pot. The dry weight, leaf NPK and Ca content, total chlorophyll, total carotenoids, nitrate reductase activity in leaves, number of nodules, nodule dry weight, nodule-nitrogen and leghemoglobin content were analysed at two growth stages. Yield attributes, number of pods, number of seeds per pod, 100-seed weight and seed-yield were recorded at harvest, and seed-protein content was estimated. The results showed that Ca at 0.6 g per pot produced the best results, in general. This treatment also enhanced the seed-yield and seed-protein content by 30.3% and 11.6% over their respective controls. Furthermore, Ca increased pH of the soil, thus presumably enhancing the nodulation. There are several reports showing that one nodulation protein identified as NodO, is the likely Ca-binding protein. Calcium and possibly calmodulin are considered to function as regulators of nitrogen fixation in the nodules. The present study shows that addition of Ca has enhanced the nodulation of the bean. In the present study, Ca has significantly increased the nitrate reductase activity in the leaves.