Abstract
Problems statement: Numerous authors have used energetic to explain the ecological success of N-fixing plants. Legume biodiversity assessment, species dynamics, nitrogen fixation monitoring and environment impact assessment of these ecological events in Al-Hassa Oasis, Saudi Arabia are rare and need to be continuous and more frequent. Approach: Thus the objectives of this study were to analyze legume abundance within and outside Al-Hassa Oasis and relate it to the distribution of the different genera. Results: Thirty two legume plant species from 20 genera have been recorded within and outside the Oasis. The largest genera were Cassia (4 species), Indigofera (4) and Acacia (3). Annual herbs were the dominant growth form (34% of species recorded), followed by shrubs (28%), perennial herbs (19%) and trees (19%). Eighteen alien plant species were recorded (maybe an underestimated number). The nitrogen fixation of the legume plant species in Al-Hassa Oasis was estimated/analyzing the fixing potentiality of these species and nonfixing reference species (Panicum turgidum) using the 15N natural abundance method. Species with great nitrogen fixing capacity in Al-Hassa include: Medicago sativa, Vicia faba, Vicia sativa, Melitotus indicus, Dolicus lablab, Melitotus alba and Cliforia ternate. The mean biological fixation contribution of most of the recorded legume plants were high, varying from 3.9% (Indigofera argentea) to 64.6% (Medicago sativa). Conclusion: Al-Hassa Oasis is richer than expected based on its location within the desert zone. This study confirms the importance of the Oasis for national flora conservation in the Kingdom. results showed a good potential for use of the 15N natural abundance methodology for evaluating the nitrogen fixation ability of the legume plants under field conditions as well as for the estimation of %Ndfa.
Highlights
20% of all legume species and about half of legume genera have been examined for nodulationThe family Fabaceae (Leguminosae) is by far the
Species dynamics, nitrogen fixation monitoring and Data analysis: Prior to any data analysis, species were environment impact assessment of these ecological assigned to major plant groups based on life-form and envents in Al-Hassa Oasis, Saudi Arabia are rare and life-span need to be continuous and more frequent
The survey on the legume plant diversity in the flora of Al-Hassa Oasis, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia indicated that the Fabaceae family is presented in the organic farming conditions
Summary
20% of all legume species and about half of legume genera have been examined for nodulation. Ranking behind only the Asteraceae and Orchidaceae in size, the Fabaceae is the third largest family of flowering plants with about 650 genera and 18,000 species (Sprent, 1995; Akran et al, 2009). The three sources of fixation are more global in Climate: The climate of Al-Hassa is characterized by occurrence, the bacteria/vascular plant symbiotic relationship usually sustain the highest rates of nitrogen fixation per unit area where they occur (Mirzakhani et al, 2009). Species dynamics, nitrogen fixation monitoring and Data analysis: Prior to any data analysis, species were environment impact assessment of these ecological assigned to major plant groups based on life-form and envents in Al-Hassa Oasis, Saudi Arabia are rare and life-span (trees, shrubs and herbs, annual or perennial) need to be continuous and more frequent.
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