Sulfur fertilizer and rhizobia inoculation improved soybean (Glycine max L. Merill) growth performance and N 2 fixation on acidic Nitisols of western Ethiopia

Main Article Content

Zerihun Getachew
Girma Abera
Sheleme Beyene

Abstract

Effects of sulfur fertilization and rhizobia inoculation on nodulation, N 2 fixation and growth performance of
soybean on acidic Nitisols of Assosa district, western Ethiopia were assessed under greenhouse condition. The
experiment was consisted of four levels of S (0, 20, 30 and 40 kgha -1 ), three rhizobia strains (MAR-1495, SB-6-1-A 2
and TAL-379) and two soybean varieties (Belessa-95 and Wollo) that was factorial combined in a completely
randomized design with three replications. Nodulation, N 2 fixation and growth performance of soybean were
significantly (P < 0.001) affected by the main effects, two-way and three-way interactions of S fertilizer, rhizobia
strains and variety. Nodule volume, nodule dry weight, shoot dry weight and amount of N 2 fixed were increased
with inoculation of rhizobia strains and S fertilizer application on acid soil. Across S applications, inoculation of
MAR-1495 increased the amount of fixed N by 759% over non-inoculated, showing that it is highly competitive
and efficient strain as compared to others. At 30 kg S ha -1 application, inoculation of MAR-1495 with Belessa-95
and Wollo varieties of soybean have fixed 89.6 and 92.5% more N 2 , respectively over control. Inoculation of
MAR-1495 rhizobia strain with application of 30 kg S ha -1 to Belessa-95 and Wollo varieties of soybean produced
2.5-3 fold increase of soybean shoot dry weight, over the control. The results demonstrate that application of 30
kg S ha -1 and inoculation of MAR-1495 strain were improved N 2 fixation, growth performance and shoot
nutrients uptake of soybean varieties on acidic Nitisols of Assosa area.

Article Details

How to Cite
Getachew, Z., Abera, G., & Beyene, S. (1). Sulfur fertilizer and rhizobia inoculation improved soybean (Glycine max L. Merill) growth performance and N 2 fixation on acidic Nitisols of western Ethiopia. Ethiopian Journal of Applied Science and Technology, 8(1), 11-21. Retrieved from https://journals.ju.edu.et/index.php/ejast/article/view/649
Section
Articles
Author Biographies

Zerihun Getachew, Ethiopian Institute of Agriculture Research, Assosa

Ethiopian
Institute of Agriculture Research, Assosa Agricultural Research Center, Assosa, Ethiopia

Girma Abera, Hawassa University, College of Agriculture

Hawassa University,

College of Agriculture, School of Plant and Horticultural Sciences, Hawassa, Ethiopia

Sheleme Beyene, Hawassa University

Hawassa University, College of Agriculture, School of Plant and Horticultural Sciences, Hawassa, Ethiopia
*Corresponding author. E-mail: girmajibat2006@yahoo.com