P.C. WHITEMAN, M. SEITLHEKO, M.E. SIREGAR, A.K. CHUDASAMA and R.R. JAVIER

Department of Agriculture, University of Queensland, St Lucia, 4067, Australia.

Abstract

Studies were undertaken on the waterlogging tolerance of commercial cultivars of 17 tropical legumes. Plants were grown in pots and divided into two groups: a control group was watered to field capacity and a flooded group set in 20 l tanks with water to 15 cm up the stem of the erect group and 5 cm with the prostrate group. Flooded plants were taken after 10 days and 21 days of immersion and harvested 7 days later. The two most tolerant were Macroptilium lathyroides and Desmodium intortum. In most cases Macroptilium lathyroides grew better, with highest weight, including nodule weight in flooded conditions. The more prostrate legumes Desmodium heterophyllum, Lotononis bainesil and Trifolium semipilosum were in the next group. All these species had medium to large adventitious roots. The third group (4 species) had their soil roots severely, debilitated, but survived, while the last group (7 species) were poorly tolerant and died within 7 to 10 days.