Evaluation of the Effects of Rhizobia on Nodulation, Yield and Yield Components of Faba Bean

Abstract

Leguminous plants are able to establish nitrogen-fixing symbiosis with certain Gram-negative bacteria, collectively known as rhizobia. Rhizobia are indeed highly efficient bacterial symbionts in legumes, playing a crucial role in biological nitrogen fixation (BNF). However, in the Tahtay Maychew area in the Tigray region of Ethiopia, no research has been done on the inoculation of grain legumes with rhizobium bacteria and the addition of phosphorus fertilizer. Therefore, during the 2015 rainy season, a study was carried out to investigate the effects of phosphorus fertilizer and rhizobium strains on the phenological parameters, nodulation, growth, yield, and yield-components of faba beans. A randomized complete block design with three replications was used to set up seven treatments: uninoculated, Strain1035, Strain1018, Strain EAL110, Strain1035 + 50 kg DAP ha-1, Strain1018 + 50 kg DAP ha-1, and Strain EAL110 + 50 kg DAP ha-1.The data analysis showed that, almost in comparison to the other treatments, the combined effects of EAL110 and 50 kg ha-1 DAP fertilizer produced a considerably larger difference in effective nodule number per plant, plant height, pod number per plant, and grain yield. The combination of 50 kg ha-1 DAP fertilizer with faba bean EAL110 strain increased grain yield by 52.17% compared to the control treatment. Hence, EAL110 and 50 kg ha-1 DAP fertilizer are recommended for use in the study area and other similar locations.