Contribution of the nutrient-enriched ant nest debris soil to growth and yield of Kalmegh (Andrographis paniculata) under natural and experimental field conditions
Contribution of the nutrient-enriched ant nest debris soil to growth and yield of Kalmegh (Andrographis paniculata) under natural and experimental field conditions
复制标题
DOI：
10.1080/01448765.2017.1408492
复制
发表时间：
2018-07
影响因子：
1.5
通讯作者：
R. Shukla;N. Rastogi;Hema Singh
中科院分区：
文献类型：
--
作者：
R. Shukla;N. Rastogi;Hema Singh
摘要穿心莲（Andrographis paniculata）是一种重要的药用植物，具有多种药理作用。本研究表明，在自然和实验田间条件下，地面筑巢蚂蚁（Pheidole latinoda）殖民地的碎屑土壤增加土壤肥力和这种植物的产量。结果表明，在残体改良土壤中种植的卡麦生长显著增强，且呈剂量依赖性。与生长在对照土壤中的植物相比，生长在碎片改良处理中的植物的产量，在分枝数、叶片数、植物生物量和豆荚数plant-1方面始终较高。与对照土壤相比，各处理土壤全C、P、速效N（NH 4-N、NO3-N）和微生物量C、P含量均显著升高。Kalmegh植物的生理生态性状，即叶面积、总生物量和果实数与土壤化学性质之间存在显著的正相关。在自然田间条件下，与位于>10 m距离的植物相比，生长在5 m距离内的Kalmegh植物的生物量也显著较高。总体而言，结果表明，P. latinoda殖民地的生态系统工程活动有可能有助于土壤肥力，从而促进这种重要药用植物的生长和产量的提高。由于在一年生种植系统中有大量的地面筑巢蚂蚁物种，如拉丁蚁，它们可以促进农业的可持续性。
Abstract Andrographis paniculata, commonly known as Kalmegh, is an important medicinal plant which exhibits a range of pharmacological characteristics. The present study revealed that under natural and experimental field conditions, the debris soil of the ground-nesting ant (Pheidole latinoda) colonies increased soil fertility and yield of this plant. The growth of Kalmegh planted in the debris amended soil was significantly enhanced in a dose-dependent manner. The yield, in terms of number of branches, number of leaves, plant biomass and number of pods plant−1 was consistently higher for plants grown in debris amended treatments as compared with plants grown in control soil. Concentrations of total C, P, available N (NH4-N, NO3-N) and microbial biomass C and P were significantly higher in the various debris amended soil treatments as compared with the control soil. Significant positive correlations were found between the ecophysiological traits of Kalmegh plants, i.e. leaf area, total biomass and number of fruits plant−1, and the soil chemical properties of the soil. Under natural field conditions also the biomass of Kalmegh plants growing within 5 m distance of P. latinoda nests was significantly higher as compared with plants located at a distance >10 m. Overall, the results suggested that the ecosystem engineering activities of P. latinoda colonies have the potential to contribute to soil fertility and thereby promote enhanced growth and yield of this medicinally important plant. Since colonies of ground-nesting ant species, such as P. latinoda, are abundant in annual cropping systems, they can contribute to agricultural sustainability.