Pakistan Journal of Biological Sciences1028-88801812-5735Asian Network for Scientific Information10.3923/pjbs.2006.1381.13882 Fixation of Sesbania aculeata (L.) At Two Salinity and Moisture Regimes]]>AzamF. AzizF. FarooqS. LodhiA. 7200697A greenhouse experiment was conducted to assess the chamber effect on growth and nitrogen fixation in Sesbania aculeata (L.) at two levels each of soil salinity (electrical conductivity 4.65 and 7.23 dS m-1) and moisture (15 and 25%, v/w). The plants were grown either in the open or placed in an open-top polyethylene chamber and harvested 6 weeks after seed sowing. Salinization of soil led to a decrease, while higher moisture caused an increase, in different growth attributes of the plants. Growth reduction due to salt stress was less than that due to low moisture stress. Plants kept in the open-top polyethylene chamber showed better growth than those placed outside (in the open); all the parameters studied were better in the chamber. Chamber effect measured as Biomass Enhancement Ratio (BER) averaged 1.22 for different salinity and moisture treatments. However, root biomass of plants grown in the chamber was less than those grown in the open. Negative effect of salinity and low moisture was mitigated to a significant extent under chamber conditions. The analysis of root and shoot material for total N and 15N showed significant amounts of N2 being fixed as measured by isotopic dilution technique. Significantly higher amounts of N were fixed at 25 than 15% soil moisture; soil salinity had a depressing effect on the amount of N2 fixed. The contribution of biologically-fixed N (Ndfa) to the total N content of shoot and root portions was 23-62% and 21-52%, respectively, under different growth conditions. Contribution of Ndfa decreased with salinity but was more at 25% than 15% soil moisture.]]>Amthor, T.S., R.J. Mitchell, G.B. Runion, H.H. Rogers, S.A. Prior and C.W. Wood,1994Glycine max (L.) Merril. and Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench grown in elevated CO2 in the field.]]>128443450Azam, F., K. Haider and K.A. Malik,1985861525Azam, F. and S. Farooq,20012 on crop plants: An overview.]]>4220224Baggs, E.M., M. Richter, G. Cadisch and U.A. Hartwig,20032.]]>35729732Bazzaz, F.A.,19902 levels.]]>21167196Bremner, J.M.,19961996pp: 1085-1121pp: 1085-1121Drake, B.G. and P.W. Leadley,19912.]]>14853860Drake, B.G., M.A. Gonzalez-Meler and S.P. Long,19972.]]>48609639Eaglesham, A.R.J., F.R. Minchin, R.J. Summerfield, P.J. Dart, P.A. Huxley and J.M. Day,1977Vigna unguiculata). III. Distribution of nitrogen within effectively nodulated plants.]]>13369380Hopkins, W.G.,19996th Edn.,Idso, K.E. and S.B. Idso,19942 enrichment in the face of environmental constraints: A review of the past 10 years' research.]]>69153203King, A.W., W.R. Emanuel and W.M. Post,19922 with global carbon cycle models: The importance of simulating historical changes.]]>1691108Koch, G.W. and H.A. Monney,19961st Edn.,Mayr, C., M. Miller and H. Insam,19992 alters community-level physiological profiles and enzyme activities in alpine grassland.]]>363543Morison, J.I.L.,19932 Under Water Limited Conditions.]]>1993pp: 193-209pp: 193-209Munns, R., G.R. Cramer and M.C. Ball,19992, Soil Salinity and Plant Growth.]]>1999pp: 139-167pp: 139-167Murillay, L., U.A. Hartwig and M. Arango,19992 content on soil and rhizospheric bacterial communities beneath Lolium perenne and Trifolium repens under field conditions.]]>383949Owensby, C.E., P.I. Coyne, J.M. Ham, L.A. Aven and A.K. Knapp,19932.]]>3644653Polley, H.W., H.B. Johnson, H.S. Mayeux, C.R. Tischler and D.A. Brown,1996Prosopis glandulosa) seedlings.]]>16817823Poorter, H.,19932 concentration.]]>104-1057797Poorter, H. and M. Perez-Soba,20012 under non-optimal environmental conditions.]]>129120Pumpanen, J., H. Ivesniemi and P. Hari,200367402413Rabha, B.K. and D.C. Uprety,19982 and moisture stress on Brassica juncea.]]>35597602Sangakkara, U.R., U.A. Hartwig and M. Nosberger,1996184123130Seneweera, S., O. Ghannoum and J.P. Conroy,20014 grass Panicum coloraum at elevated CO2 partial pressures.]]>28451460Serraj, R., T.R. Sinclair and L.H. Allen,199821491500Sgheri, C.L.M., M.F. Quartacci, M. Menconi, A. Raschi and F. Navari-Izzo,19982 on alfalfa plants.]]>152118124Stanford, G. and S.J. Smith,197236465472Tissue, D.T., J.P. Megonigal and R.B. Thomas,19972 fixation are stimulated by elevated CO2 in a tropical N2-fxixing tree.]]>1092833Tschaplinski, T.J., R.J. Norby and S.D. Wullschleger,19932 and fluctuating water supply.]]>13283296Vaughan, P.J. and D.L. Suarez,20022 flux and evapotranspiration in wheat.]]>116S37S44Wall, G.W., 20012 alleviates drought stress in wheat.]]>87261271Yu, M., Q. Gao and M.J. Shaffer,200231634641Zanetti, S., U.A. Hartwig, A. Luscher, T. Hebison and M. Frehner et al.,19972 fixation in Trifolium repens L. under elevated atmospheric CO2 concentration in grassland ecosystem.]]>112575583