Effects of some nitrogen-fixing plants on seedling growth of scotch

Deniz Güney,İbrahim Turna,Erhan Seyis,Fahrettin Atar,Ali Bayraktar

doi:10.18182/tjf.579386

Abstract

Nitrogen is one of the most important nutrients for plants, and some plants are involved in the conversion of atmospheric nitrogen to organic form. These plants are capable of nitrogen fixing by bacteria in their roots and are important in alleviating nitrogen deficiency and improving soil. The objective of this research is to determine the growth differences in Scotch pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) seedlings grown together with some nitrogen-fixing species. The study was conducted in The Research and Application Greenhouse at Faculty of Forestry, Karadeniz Technical University. Alnus glutinosa, Robinia pseudoacacia and Vicia sativa were selected as nitrogen-fixing species. Seeds were sown, by different sowing combinations, in special sowing crates in November. For 1-year-old scotch pine seedlings after the first growing period, seedling length, root collar diameter and sturdiness quotient were determined. The results indicated that while the average length of Pinus sylvestris seedlings sown alone was 3.36 cm, the average length of the seedlings belonging to Pinus sylvestris+Vicia sativa combination reached 6.84 cm. Similarly, mean root collar diameter was 0.47 mm greater in the Pinus sylvestris+Vicia sativa sowing combination. The use of higher quality seedlings obtained through sowing combination of Pinus sylvestris+Vicia sativa can be advantageous in areas where there is a ground cover problem or the use of quality seedlings is required because of extreme conditions in terms of altitude, climate and soil.

Highlights

Nitrogen is the main ingredient of amino acids, nucleic acids and other amino compounds and polymers formed in the cells of all living creatures (Tecimen and Sevgi, 2008)
The average seedling length for P.syl was determined as 3.36 cm, while the average values for, P.syl+A.glu, P.syl+V.vat and P.syl+R.pse occurred as 6.25 cm, 6.84 cm and 5.53 cm respectively
While the average root collar diameter for P.syl seedlings was 1.29 mm, the average values for P.syl+A.glu, P.syl+V.vat and P.syl+R.pse were determined as 1.46 mm, 1.76 mm and

Summary

Introduction

Nitrogen is the main ingredient of amino acids, nucleic acids and other amino compounds and polymers formed in the cells of all living creatures (Tecimen and Sevgi, 2008). When the proportions of the elements in the structure of the plants are examined, it is seen that nitrogen is found to be lower in ratio than carbon, hydrogen and oxygen (Hasman, 1972; Haynes, 1986). While nitrogen constitutes 1.5-5% of the plant dry weight (Haynes, 1986) and is present in a very low amount in terms of quantity, it is one of the main nutrients in plant life and biochemical events of organic compounds (Haynes, 1986; Gebauer and Schulze, 1997). Nitrogen constitutes 78% of the atmosphere with its gaseous form and has 15% share in the structure of nucleic acids, proteins and vitamins. Plants cannot use nitrogen in gaseous form. Nitrogen is converted into nitrite by nitrite a Karadeniz Teknik Üniversitesi, Orman Fakültesi, Silvikültür Anabilim

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