https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8309-4764
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ABSTRACT
The effectiveness of Rhizobium inoculation is largely determined by soil properties. In this study, the symbiotic efficiency of 17 Rhizobium/Agrobacterium local strains was screened in greenhouse experiments. Subsequently, the combined effects of selected five rhizobial strains plus a starting N-dose (48 kg N ha−1) on nodulation and yield of faba bean were evaluated in two-year field trials. The field experiments were conducted in multiple locations which represent fertile, alkaline-calcareous, and salt-affected soils. Regardless of soil type, rhizobial inoculation overwhelmingly improved the nodulation of faba beans compared to the non-inoculated control and N-fertilized (48 and 96 kg N ha−1) treatments. In all of the sites, inoculated faba beans, with at least two strains, produced grain yield and grain N yield significantly greater, or comparable to N-fertilized (96 kg N ha−1) treatment. The maximum response of faba bean to inoculation was identified in the salt-affected soil, whereas faba bean inoculated with Rlv strain NGB-FR 126 showed significant increases in the averages of grain yield (50%) and grain N-yield (56%) compared to N-fertilized (96 kg N ha−1) treatment, over the two cropping seasons. Besides enhancing nodulation, application of rhizobial inoculants effectively improved production and plant response in alkaline-calcareous and salt-affected soil conditions.
Acknowledgements
We are grateful to Professor Abdelaal Shamseldin (City for Scientific Research and Technology Applications, Egypt) and Esteban Veliz (UC Davis, CA, USA) for revising the manuscript.
Disclosure statement
No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.