Mineral nutrition, dinitrogen fixation, and growth of Alnuscrispa and Alnusglutinosa

Abstract

Invitro cultures of Alnuscrispa (Ait.) Pursh and Alnusglutinosa (L.) Gaertn. were used to estimate critical foliage levels of selected nutrients for optimal growth and dinitrogen (N2) fixation. For A. crispa to obtain 90% of maximum growth and N2 fixation, foliar levels of 0.12% P, 0.13% Mg, <0.31% K, and <0.04% Ca on a dry weight basis were needed. For A. glutinosa, the critical levels were 0.138% P, 0.10% Mg, 0.29% Ca, and ~0.20% K. From all the deficiencies observed, P had the more pronounced effects on N status of both species.