Tech,. Bull. Fac,, Agr.. Kagawa Univ.
PHYSIOLOGICAL STUDIES
OF
T H E GROWING PROCESSO F BROAD BEAN PLANTS
IV Effects
of
N,P,
andK
Nutrient Element o n the Growth andthe
Chemical Componentsin
t h e Various OrgansICiyoshi TAMAKI and Junzaburo NAKA
Many investigations have been reported on the manurial trials with broad bean (T.'zcia faba) and on the nutrient elements affecting on the growth, yield, or metabolic changes, but there have been found almost no conclusive studies(1,2,4,5*7.8~9~11~15,16). It may be concluded that the response of this crop for fertilizers varies greatly with local soil or cultural media, and possibly climatic conditions.
The present investigation was made to obtain some informations concerning the growth, dry matter production, and physiological status especially carbohydrate and nitrogen contents in the various organs.
Materials and Methods
Experiments were conducted in non-heated glass house. Broad bean, cultivar "Sanuki- nagasaya" were sown a t nursery bed on November 17, and the seedlings were trans- planted two plants per pot on December 17. Plants were grown on coarse sand in a/2000 Wagner's pot, with Sato's nutrient solution somewhat modified. This solution contained 150 pprn of N, 10 ppm of P, 100 ppm of
K
and Ca, 30 ppm of Mg, and a small amount of Fe, Mn, B, Zn, Mo, and Cu. The nutrient solution was renewed a t intervals of5 to 7 days being accompanied with the plant growth. The solution was poured into culture pot once every 24 hours in the early stage and €1 ery 12 hours in the later stage,
after passing through the sand it was received with the underlying pot which was inter- connected with vinyl tube.
Table 1. Experimental design
C C
J. early
stage
control
1
N minus P minus K minus$gents
(complete nutrieht
solution
)
treatment treatment treatmentg%ment
later stage cont.
N minus treat.. N minus treat., P minus treat,, cont. K minus treat. P minus treat
..
cont,. three elements minus treat. K minus treat. cont,Vol 23, No. 1 (1971) 3
The experimental design is shown in Table I., the early stage was the period from the transplanting to the start of flowering and thenceforth to maturity named the later stage; plants were grown under the major element minus nutrient condition in one or two stages.
Plants were sampled a t the start and the end of flowering and also at the time of maturity. The sampling techniques and other experimental details of chemical analysis were the same as described in the previous papers (12,13,14)
Results Growing Process
Growing status of plants is shown in Fig. 1. During the first two months, stem numbers were approximate between control and element minus treatments, but the increases of stem length and leaf numbers were lowered by N and three elements minus treatment. Thereafter, the vegetative and the reproductive growth marched in every treatments with the rise of temperature. The vegetative growth of N minus treatment described above became vigorous as same as that of K minus treatment and control, while it was retarded remarkably by P and three elements minus treatment in the early stage. Moreover, the effects of P deficiency in the early stage continued till the time of maturity, even if the plants were kept under the complete nutrient condition (Control) after the end of flowering. On the contrary, as for the plants treated minus element in the later stage, there were little effects on their growth.
-
2 1 0 0-
-r: . . 3 %Q zi # E 9 50- d rZ 0.
.
-
--..
0 3 r' x 0 I I A - 1 1-
I 17 18 15 17 18 15 17 18 15 17 18 15 17 1s 15Dec Feb 4pr Ilec I'eb Apr Dec Feb 4 p r Dec Feb Ap* Dec Feb Apr
F i g 1 Changes in total stem length and total leaf number per plant
Nutrient Condition ; @- C (Cont )
0-
-0
-N, O---•
- P ,4 Tech Bull. Fac Agr. Kagawa Univ
Though the flowering started about the same time in every treatments, the flowering days per plant were reduced by three elements and P minus treatment in the early stage, are shown in Table 2. The days from the start of flowering to the time of maturity are also shortened on plants grown under P minus condition in the later stage, three elements and P minus conditions in the early stage except for P minus followed by control treatment. Pod bearing stem number, flower number, pod number, pod length, seed number, and seed weight were also considerably low in these plants (Table 2 ) .
Table 2. Effects of nutrient condition on flowering, podding, and seed-setting
- - - - - -- - - -- . - -- - -- - - C C C C - N - N - P - P - K - K - N P K $ J . C I $ I / k 4 $ C C - N - P - K - N C - P C - K C -NPK ---- - flowering days* 26 27 31 29 28 26 20 19 28 24 19 maturing days* 94 91 79 94 87 81 74 88 85 82 71
pod bearing stem
number* 1.50 1.25 1.25 1.33 1 7 5 1 6 0 1 0 0 1 3 3 2 5 0 2.00 1 0 0
flowernumber*l) 3 0 0 2 7 8 2 1 3 2 5 1 3 0 7 3 1 5 1 2 5 1 1 3 2 9 5 2 8 5 1 2 0
pod number a t the
of flowering* 11 5 8 3 6 8 9 5 5 0 5 0 3 0 4 3 8 3 8 3 2 8 p o d n u m b e r a t t h e maturing* 2) 3 8 3 3 2 3 4 0 3 6 3 8 1 0 2 0 5 3 5 3 1 3 'Oddin' percentage 12 7 11 9 10 8 15 9 11 7 12.1 8 0 17 7 18 0 18 6 10.8 2)/1) % pod length cm 1 0 7 1 1 0 1 1 4 1 0 9 10.7 1 0 5 6 3 7 3 1 0 0 1 1 2 7.8 s e e d n u m b e r p e r p o d 2.11 2 8 2 2 3 0 2 2 5 2 6 1 2.58 1 0 0 1.00 2 3 0 2 2 1 1 0 0 100 seeds wt g 109.5 107 5 100.5 102 7 107 " 2 109 2 80 0 103 3 100 2 110 5 70 0 .-
*
per plantThe dry weight per plant and its distribution of each organ varied in relation to the growing status mentioned above (Fig .2). Among the effects of elment minus treatment,
i t should be emphasized that the
- - . . . -- . . -. .-
-
"' "' sl:"t cf at the end of f i o , \ c l ing
f i 3 > < r i n g a t tile time of n l a t s l ~ t )
Fig, 2 . Changes in dry weight of each organ per plant
changes in root weight were re- markable a t the end of flowering, and that though the P minus treat- ment always caused the reduction of dry weight, following the de- velopment of the rep~oductive organ took place of the vegetative growth.
Chemical Components
The carbohydrate content per gram of dry weight a t three sam- pling times are shown in Figs.
3 and 4. Effects of element minus treatment in the early stage varied
Vol. 23,No. 1 (1971)
with organs; at the start of flowering, carbohydrate content especially the starch was considerably lowered in leaf-blades by N and K minus treatment, in roots by P minus treatment and control. At the end of flowering, the responses on total carbohydrate content by the treatment in the early stage were similar as in leaf-blades, stems, and roots. Moreover, the sugar content was low in N and K minus treated plants, but increased by P and three elements minus treatment. On the other hand, there were little effects in the later stage. In root nodules a t the end of flowering, the carbohydrate content became low by changing the nutrient condition in the later stage as compared with the plant grown in constant continued condition, and these tendencies were evident in non-reducing sugar content. In pods at the end of flowering, the carbohydrate content especially the starch was reduced by P and three elements minus treatment, but the reducing sugar content was high. As for the content in seeds, evident differences could not be detected among any treatments.
300F. Root
--
--
a t the stalt of ot tile e n d of florrering a t the time of maturity flonenng Root nodule
4ool
R
300-
200 u .--.,
loo -. E-
u & na1 tilo timc of tnalnxit> Rcd~icing sup:tl fi"ll-,c<I,,< i,,g s
S t i l l ~ l l
' A _ _ _ _ - . .
at the end of fl $it ilia ?t tlle timc of nlattuity
Fig. 3 Carbohydrate content in leaf- Fig 4 Carbohydrate content in root
blade, stem, and root nodule, pod, and seed
The nitrogen content per gram of dry weight are shown in Figs. 5 and 6. The total nitrogen content and protein-N portion were lowered by P and three elements minus treatment opposite to N and K minus treatment in leaf-blades. It was difficult to find a certain relation in stems and roots between nitrogen content and nutrient conditions, but
Tech. Bull. Fac. Agr. Kagawa Univ.
the soluble-N content seemed to increase by P minus treatment a s compared with the protein-N content. In pods at the end of flowering, the soluble-N content was remarkably
high in P and three elements minus treated plants but reduced with P supplying lately. As for the content in seeds, evident differences could not be detected among any treatments.
The amount of carbohydrate and nitrogen compound per plant were low in P and three elements minus treatment in the early stage owing to the dry weight.
I 1 l l i 1 I l L l l l 1 1 l l I
h..i,&..i
s c -1. c 4 6 --XPK C-N-p-K -N C .-; c .K c -Si'K'
-- ~
It the of a t the end o i f l o u o ~ i n g
f iowcl inp a t the time of lniatut~ty
F i g . 5 Nitrogen content in leaf-blade, stem, and root
Root nodule
I
S e e d ' , 1 d at the cnd of floweting 4 4 4 4 $ 4 L L 1 1 I C-N-P-K -5 C -P C -K C -NPK--
a t t l ~ c end of floweringat the time of maturity
a t the time of rnatulity
Fig,. 6,. Nitrogen content in root nodule, pod, and seed
Discussion
The results of this experiment indicated four evident facts between the growth of broad bean plants and nutrient conditions.
a) The branching was not affected by nutrient conditions. AIHARA'S report ( 2 ) and the
authors' unpublished data indicated that the branch number depended on the weight per seed. From these facts it seemed that the amount of stored materials in seeds including P were abundant for branching in broad bean plants, but the growth of these branches was affected by nutrient conditions shown in Table 2, as suggested by SHIRASAWA (lo) with soybean plants.
retarded, recovered vigorously. And the development of root nodules was remarkably high on plant of N minus treatment as compared with the plant of P minus treatment (Table 3). Moreover, KAMATA (6) recognized that the reducing sugar content in roots related to the development of the root nodules. Therefore, in this experiment N and P relation in cultural media might be affected the function of root nodules.
Table 3. Effects of nutrient condition on the root nodule development
a t the end of flowering
number per plant
*
6 2 . 0 98.5 47.0 6 6 . 0 186.0 38..3 18..0 2 8 . 8 48.3 41.8 28..3*
above 1 mm in diameterc) The vegetative and the reproductive growth which progressed together during the flowering stage '12,13) were influenced by nutrient conditions. How distribute the net
dry matter produced during this stage into the vegetative or the reproductive organs? The percentage of dry weight distributed into the reproductive organs were shown about 45 and 35 by three elements and P minus treatment in the early stage, respectively. On the contrary, the value was about 25, 22, 19, 25, 14, and 10% in the plant of K and N minus treatment in the early stage, N, P, and K minus treatment in the later stage, and complete nutrition, respectively.
AHMED (I' stated that the critical period for P of broad bean plants was between 3rd and 9th week following planting, as the plants developed and seed produced normally if absorbed sufficient P. He also reported that supplies of P after 9th week did not increase dry weight but increased P content. AIHARA ( 2 ) indicated that P content in broad bean variety "Issun" was high in vegetative organs in winter season and afterwards in pods and seeds remarkably. BIDDULPH'~) experimented that s2P absorbed in the young stage redistributed to upper leaves with bean plants.
It seemed that the development of reproductive organs should be progressed instead of vegetative growth if the plant absorbed insufficient P, subsequently the defoliation occured. The relative growth rate (RGR) d u ~ i n g this stage supported this fact mentioned above (Table 4)
.
Table 4 Effects of nutrient condition on relative growth rate (RGR)
during the flowering stage g/g/wk.
R G R 0.199 0.126 0 109 0..150 0.185 0.185 0.119 0.139 0.228 0.235 0..132
d) The carbohydrate and nitrogen content in each organ varied with experimental nutrient conditions. There was disagreement in responses; in certain organs increased
8 Tech. Bull. Fac Agr
.
Kagawa Univthe sugar and in other organs increased the starch, the soluble-N and protein-N content were so on, though these results were partly similar to other report (lo).
However, the soluble portion (sugar, soluble-N)
/
insoluble portion (starch,protein- N) ratio at the end of flowering was generally high in the plant of P and three elements minus treatment, instead the reverse tendencies were recognized in N and Kminus treatment and control plants. Especially the total sugar
/
starch ratio in stems, roots,and pods, and the soluble-N/
ptotein-N ratio in pods was remarkable (Table 5).Table 5 Effects of nutrient condition on the ratio of soluble and insoluble portion of chemical component in each organ a t the end of flowering
. -- - -. -- -- -- - --
Carbohydrate (total sugar/st?rch)
leaf-blade 1 8 2 1 5 0 1 2 9 2 1 5 1 8 9 1 4 9 1 5 2 1 6 4 1.57 2.07 1.45
stem 1 1 8 1.65 1 2 2 1 4 4 0 7 9 0 8 1 1.84 1.89 0.85 111 1 8 4
root 0 8 7 1 5 1 1 0 9 1 0 5 0 7 3 0 2 6 1 2 1 1 6 6 0 5 0 0 6 9 1.58
root nodule 0 7 6 0 3 4 0 3 3 0 9 6 1.74 0 2 8 2 0 4 0 5 9 0 8 6 0 5 1 0 7 3
Nitrogen compound (soluble-N/potein-N)
- -- - - -- - . -- - -- - --- - - -
leaf-blade 0 52 0 54 0 61 0 50 0 47 0 46 0 68 0 67 0 52 0 55 0 66
stem 2 29 2 48 3 21 2 40 1 86 2 00 2 90 2 71 2 20 2 68 2 23
root 0 92 0 88 0 86 0 83 0 76 0 98 0 86 0 92 0 82 0 93 0 98
root nodule 1 8 1 0 9 2 2 0 4 1 0 2 1.94 111 3 5 2 1 7 6 1 7 2 1 2 5 1 9 8
Therefore, it seemed that the P content has close connection with the function of high molecular compound synthesis, meaning the data of adequate or critical P
contents in broad bean "Issun" ' 2 ~ 1 0 ) relate to this fact, and that the N, P, and K balance has close relation with the assimilation, translocation, and storage of sub- stances in broad bean plants.
Summary
The present investigation was undertaken to obtain some informations concerning the effects of N, P, and K nutrient element on the growth and the chemical components of broad bean plants using the cultivar "Sanuki-nagasaya" as materials
.
The experiment was conducted under sand culture with nutrient solution; control, N, P, K, and three ele- ments minus treatment in the early and the later stage.The results obtained may be summarized as follows:
(1) The effects of nutrient condition on branching were approximate, but increases of stem length and leaf number were retarded by N minus treatment during the first two
months. Thereafter, the vegetative growth including the development of root nodules progressed vigorously in N and K minus treatment and control plants. While the plants of P and three elements minus treatment grew weakly, followed by the reduction of the growth of reproductive organs. Theref ore, the reproductive growth took place of the vegetative growth, when the plant absorbed insufficient P in the early stage of growing period, should be emphasized in broad bean plants.
(2) The carbohydrate and nitrogen contents in each organ varied with experimental nutrient condition ; the fluctuation was considerably evident in element minus treated plants in the early stage. It was clear that the soluble portion (sugar, soluble-N)
/
insoluble portion (starch, protein-N) ratio was high in P and three elements minus treated plants in contrast with the treatment of N and K deficiency.(3) Judging from the resluts, it may be pointed out that the balance of N, P, and K
nutrient element has close relation with the assimilation, translocation, and storage of substances, but the requirement for P was the most important in the early stage for the following growth and the function of high molecular compound synthesis in broad bean plants.
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.
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.
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