A QUALITATIVE STUDY OF THE NODULATING ABILITY OF LEGUMES OF PAKISTAN - LIST 5

Legume-Rhizobium symbiosis accumulates substantial amounts of minerali zable nitrogen which help in ecological rehabilitation of degraded soi ls and increase the soil fertility in agricultural ecosystem. Nodulati on was studied in 72 legume species from various parts of Pakistan. Al l the species of Papilionoideae and Mimosoideae were nodulated whereas all the species examined in Caesalpinioideae were non-nodulated. Atte mpts to elicit nodulation in Caesalpinioid species by rhizobial inocul ation were not successful and they were accepted as lacking nodulating ability. Nodulation is reported for the first time in 6 species withi n 3 genera of Mimosoideae and 9 species within 5 genera of Papilionoid eae, Majority of the species were abundantly nodulated under natural s oil conditions or when grown in uninoculated garden soil indicating di stribution of wide range of naturalized rhizobia. The study shows that the wild legumes hold great promise for inclusion in revegetation of denuded and derelict ecosystems.