Abstract Detail

Developmental and Structural Section

Mikesell, Jan [1].

Growth enhancement by legume intercropping.

Rye-grass plants were grown in monoculture or intercropped with mung bean plants.  Rye-grass was intercropped with bean plants in 3 ways: 1) beans remained intact, 2) all beans were detipped, or 3) 1/2 of the beans were detipped.  Detipping was accomplished by removing the terminal stem tip of bean seedlings.  Greatest growth promotion of rye-grass occurred when intercropped with beans in which all beans were detipped.  Maximal values of intercropped rye-grass plants were 115%, 36% and 259% for plant height, leaf number and leaf width, respectively, as compared to rye-grass plants in monoculture.  Analysis of bean plants also manifested growth promotion when intercropped with rye-grass.  Intact mung beans in monoculture revealed maximal development early-on.  However by harvest time, intercropped beans (1/2 of which were detipped) compared to intact beans grown alone were taller by 43%, and had stems which were 65% longer.  Individual plant biomass of intercropped bean and rye-grass plants were 440% and 238%, respectively, than their counterparts when grown alone.  Growth promotion of rye-grass was correlated to both intercropping with and tip removal of bean plants.  Promotion of growth in bean plants was influenced by tip removal in bean and intercropping with rye-grass as well, but floral induction in beans was also a factor.  For example, the two groups of intercropped rye-grass-bean combinations in which the greatest percentage of flowering plants developed (when beans were intact & when 1/2 of the beans were detipped) revealed maximal values of height and stem length.  Possible explanations for rye-grass growth stimulation by legumes were three-fold: 1) increased availability of mineral ions, 2) rhizobia-induced plant growth regulators, or 3) expanded root systems. 

1 - Gettysburg College, Department of Biology, Box 392, Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, 17325, USA

Keywords:
grains, legumes, mung bean, rye-grass.

Presentation Type: Oral Paper
Session: 24-5
Location: Salon A - Gov Ballroom/Hilton
Date: Tuesday, August 16th, 2005
Time: 9:00 AM
Abstract ID:7