Effects of the length of incubation period and herbicides on nitrogenase activity of pea (Pisum sativum L.)

Abstract

In a pot experiment the effects of the length of incubation period and the pre-emergence application of terbutryn/terbuthylazine at 2.80 kg a.i. ha-1 or post-emergence application of bentazone at 2.88 kg a.i. ha-1 on the nitrogenase activity in intact pea plants were measured in situ by the acetylene reduction assay. An incubation period of 10 min resulted in the highest nitrogenase activity. As the length of the incubation period increased to 30 or 60 min the total as well as the specific nitrogenase activity decreased. Terbutryn/terbuthylazine decreased the total nitrogenase activity at all three (i.e. vegetative, flowering and seed-filling) stages, whereas bentazone resulted in a significant decrease at the flowering stage only. However, terbutryn/terbuthylazine-treated plants had the highest specific nitrogenase activity both at the flowering and seed-filling stages.