Effects of four N sources and two defoliation treatments on growth and nitrogenase activity of Gliricidia sepium (Jacq.) Walp seedlings were studied in a greenhouse. All nutrients were supplied in irrigation water to the sterile growing medium. The N sources were: (1) 100 mg l(-1) of N supplied as NO(3) (-) (high-NO(3) (-)), (2) 50 mg l(-1) of N supplied as NO(3) (-) and inoculation with Rhizobium spp. medium-NO(3) (-)), (3)100 mg l(-1) of N supplied as NH(4)NO(3), and (4) inoculation with Rhizobium spp without mineral N (N(2)). At 35 weeks after sowing, mean total biomass was 130.5, 50.5, 22.9 and 17.4 g seedling(-1) in the NH(4)NO(3), N(2), medium-NO(3) (-) and high-NO(3) (-) treatments, respectively. The root/shoot ratio was high in all of the N treatments (1.73-2.77) because the seedlings had big taproots. The medium-NO(3) (-) treatment completely inhibited nodulation, whereas seedlings in the N(2) treatment were profusely nodulated. At 32 weeks after sowing, groups of seedlings in the N(2) and high-NO(3) (-) treatments were subjected to 50 or 100% defoliation. Closed-chamber acetylene reduction assays of intact root systems were conducted to compare nitrogenase activity at 7, 14 and 28 days after defoliation (DAD). At 7 and 14 DAD, nitrogenase activity of completely and partially defoliated seedlings was about 10 and 60%, respectively, of that of undefoliated controls. At 28 DAD, nitrogenase activity of completely defoliated seedlings was twice the predefoliation value, whereas nitrogenase activity of partially defoliated seedlings was only 87% of the predefoliation value. Recovery of nitrogenase activity was strongly correlated with foliage regrowth in the completely defoliated seedlings, but not in the partially defoliated seedlings. Abundant belowground C and N reserves in the large taproot probably contributed to the rapid recovery from defoliation. Accumulation of belowground biomass may also improve defoliation tolerance of mature trees.