Crop Science Journal of Natural Resources and Life Sciences Education
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Published in Crop Sci 13:594-597 (1973)
© 1973 Crop Science Society of America
677 S. Segoe Rd., Madison, WI 53711 USA
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Seasonal Patterns of Nitrate Reductase Activity and Nitrate Concentration of Two Alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) Cultivars1

D. L. Eskew, L. E. Schrader and E. T. Bingham2

Studies were undertaken to establish seasonal patterns of nitrate reductase (E. C. 1.6.6.1) activity (NRA) and nitrate concentration in ‘Vernal’ and ‘Saranac’ alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.). A secondary study was conducted to determine the effects of N-fertilization upon NRA and nitrate concentrations in herbage tissues.

In leaflets, NRA and nitrate concentration were high at young vegetative growth stages and declined with maturity during all growth periods, both during year of establishment (1971) and second year of the stand (1972). Nitrate concentrations and NRA were highly correlated over the entire 1972 season (r = 0.80**). Leaflets from the shoot apex were higher in NRA than leaflets lower on the shoots, but nitrate concentrations were similar in both fractions. Stems exhibited low NRA at all sampling dates. Fertilization with 112 kg/ha of N as ammonium nitrate after the second cutting in 1972 increased nitrate concentration in all shoot parts and increased NRA in all leaflet fractions.

Key Words: N fertilization • Leaflets • Stems

1 Contribution from Department of Agronomy, Wisconsin Agr. Exp. Sta., Madison, Wis. 53706. Research supported by the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Madison. Part of research submitted by senior author in partial fulfillment of requirements for a M.S. degree

2 University Fellow and Associate Professors, respectively. The authors wish to thank Dr. J. H. Torrie for assistance in statistical analysis of the data.

Received for publication March 7, 1973.




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