Efficiency of Biological Nitrogen Fixation of Bradyrhizobium under Different Soil Fertility Levels as Measured by 15N Dilution Analysis

Abstract

The objective of this study was to determine the efficiency of biological nitrogen fixation (BNF) of local Bradyrhizobium isolates in soil of various fertility levels using 15 N dilution technique. Local isolates were obtained from cowpea rhizosphere in fields of different Iraqi provinces. Six isolates were selected in this study, which was conducted as a pot experiment under greenhouse conditions. Effects of the following fertility levels were evaluated: at F1, 0 mg N, P and K was added; at F2, 25 mg N/kg soil, 10 mg P/kg soil and 25 mg K/kg soil were added, respectively; the other two levels were F3 at which 50, 20 and 50 mg/kg soil and at F4 75, 30 and 75 mg/kg soil for N, P and K, respectively, were added. Urea, labeled with 15 N 10% access atom (aa), was used as a source of N. The highest BNF was observed under the lowest fertility level, i.e., F1. BNF across all isolates was markedly decreased with the increase of nutrient application to soil, being totally eliminated at the highest fertility level F4. Numbers of nodules per plant root of all isolates were the least under the zero nutrients application and the highest nodules number were found under the highest levels of N, P and K application. Number of nodules does not necessarily reflect the best BNF efficiency of all isolates. However, fertility levels were of significant effect on average nodule number of all isolates. The lowest plant dry weight was under the first fertility level F1 irrelevant of Rhizobium isolates. In general, the highest plant dry weight was under the second soil fertility level F2.