THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE MORPHOLOGICAL AND ANATOMICAL CHARACTERS OF VEGETATIVE ORGANS OF DESMODIUM INTORTUM AND THE HIGH NITROGEN FIXATION, SHADE TOLERANCE AND CONSERVATION OF SOIL AND WATER
Desmodium intortum (Mill. ) Fawc. et Rendle is a pasture with abundant nutrition and a plant species which Possesses shade tolerance, high nitrogen fixation and is suitable to soil and water conservation. Its root nodules can form in the root system consisting of main root, lateral roots and adventitious roots. Root nodules form soon and in quantity.The effective rate of root nodule is more than 85%. Bacterioid in root nodules is in theshape of club. The somewhat stoloniform stem has many branches and hence will cover larger area. The adventitious root can easily be produced from node or internode. The character of its shade tolerance is related to its thin leaf, less stomata, bigger chloroplasts which contain less starch grains and abundant grana. It grows well in 20% shade condition.
