Response of two promiscuous soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merrill) genotypes to Bradyrhizobial inoculation in two Ghanaian soils

Abstract

Three strains of Bradyrhizobium spp (LS8, LS50 and TAL 102) were evaluated in two soils in Ghana (Agawtaw and Bawjiasi series) for their effects on nodulation and growth of two promiscuously nodulating soybean varieties (TGX 536-02D and TGX 306-036C). The experiment was carried out in a plastic house at the Crop Science Department of the University of Ghana, Legon. Inoculation increased nodule number, nodule dry weight, N yield and shoot dry weight of plants. The magnitude of these inoculation responses was influenced by soil type and soybean variety. Responses were higher in the Bawjiasi soil than in the Agawtaw soil and also higher for variety TGX 536-02D than for TGX 306-036C. Strain TAL 102 induced the highest nodulation, nitrogen accumulation and shoot growth. These results indicate the possibility of increasing nodulation, N2 fixation and yield of field grown promiscuous soybean through inoculation with selected strains of Bradyrhizobium spp.



JOURNAL OF THE GHANA SCIENCE ASSOCIATION Volume 2 No. 1 (2000) pp. 99-104