EUCALYTUS AND ACACIA MIXED PLANTING EFFECTS ON IN-VIVO NITRATE KEDUCTASE ACTIVITY AND BIOMASS PRODUCTION

Abstract

Eucalyptus tereticornis and Acacia nilotica mixed planting effects on the seasonal nitrate reductase (NR) activity and biomass production were studied under pot culture conditions. A progressive increase in NR activity and biomass production in different plant parts, i.e. leaf, stem and root was observed in Eucalyptus and Acacia species in both, single and mixed planting treatments. Maximum in-vivo NR activity was observed during the summer followed by winter and rainy seasons in both the species and planting treatments. Mixed planting treatment suppressed NR activity and biomass of different plant parts as compared to single planting but the decrease was only significant between Eucalyptus and mixed Eucalyptus- Acacia plantings.