Responses of Root Nodule Formation and Nitrogen Fixation Activity to Nitrate in a Split-Root System in Peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.)

Peanut is an important constituent of crop rotation systems with various vegetable crops, which need large amounts of inorganic nitrogen. Nitrate inhibits nodule formation and nitrogen fixation of the peanut plants in these cropping systems. To elucidate this nitrate-induced inhibition, an experimental method using a split-root system was designed and the inhibitory level of nitrate (14 mM) was applied to half of the roots for 5 or 30 days in pot experiments. In the application of nitrate for 5 days, the dry weight, the nitrogen content, and both the number and the fresh weight of nodules for each half of the roots were unaffected by the nitrate applied to the other half. However, the nitrate induced significantly lower nitrogenase activity in the applied half. In the application for 30 days, nitrate induced a significantly higher nitrogen content in the applied half of the roots, and the inhibitory effect on nodulation and nodule development was observed not only in the applied half but also in the other half. Thus, the inhibitory effect of long-term nitrate application on the nodulation and nitrogenase activity of peanut may be systemic, but that of short-term nitrate application, in which external nitrate may regulate nitrogen fixation, may not be systemic.