Inoculation, phosphorous and zinc fertilization effects on nodulation, yield and nutrient uptake of Faba bean (Vicia faba L.) grown on calcaric cambisol of semiarid Ethiopia

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted in 2010 crop season with three factors: Inoculation (U = no inoculums and I = with inoculums), three levels of P (0, 20, 40kgPha-1) and three levels of Zn (0, 15, 25kgZnha-1) fertilizations. The experiments were laid in randomized complete blocks in three replications on calcaric cambisols to study effects of inoculation, P and Zn fertilizations on nodulation, yield, yield components, and the uptake N, P and Zn by the plant. Composite soil samples were collected one month before sowing and plant samples were taken both at 50% flowering and plant maturity. Findings showed that, the main and interaction effects of inoculation, P and Zn fertilization were found to affect significantly (P < 0.05) the root distribution and mass of nodules, the concentration of N, P and Zn in nodule, root and leaf tissues at 50% flowering, At maturity, P and Zn were found to significantly increase the root length, root fresh weight of the plant, and inoculation significantly affected the root fresh weight. Phosphorous and Zn fertilization improved the grain yield, pods plant-1 , grain pod-1 , number of branches, and the grain uptake of N, P and Zn nutrients. The combined application of inoculation, P and Zn fertilization increased the grain yield on average by 1.3 Mg ha-1. Phosphorous and Zn fertilization alone increased the grain P and Zn uptake by 1.1 and 2.7 × 10-2 kg ha-1 , respectively, and the combined application of inoculation, P and Zn improved the N uptake of the faba bean grains on average by 40 kg ha-1. Thus, inoculating the legume with efficient and compatible rhizobium, and fertilizing it with P and Zn should be recommended to soils deficient in P and Zn, especially in alkaline calcareous soils.

Response of Chickpea (Cicer aritienum&nbsp;L.) to Sulphur and Zinc Nutrients Application and&nbsp;Rhizobium&nbsp;Inoculation in North Western Ethiopia

“…Zn is involved in auxin metabolism like, tryptophane synthesis, tryptamine metabolism, protein synthesis, formation of nucleic acid and helps in utilization of nitrogen as well as phosphorus by plants (Ram and Katiyar, 2013). Similar to the current findings N uptake increase due to rhizobium inoculation, S and Zn application have been reported by several literatures (Abdalla et al, 2011;Das et al, 2016;Desta et al, 2015;El-kade and Mona, 2013;Hussain et al, 2011;Islam et al, 2013;Jay et al, 2012;Kesare, 2014;Mondal et al, 2005;Najar et al, 2011;Rokhzadi and Toashih, 2011;Shamima and Farid, 2006;Srinivasulu et al, 2015;Srivastava et al, 2006;Togay et al, 2008;Zaidi et al, 2003;Zerihun et al, 2017) Total phosphorus uptake…”

Contribution, Utilization, and Improvement of Legumes-Driven Biological Nitrogen Fixation in Agricultural Systems

“…Makoi et al (2013) revealed improvement in the uptake of N and P following inoculation of different legumes with effective strains of rhizobia. Nyoki and Ndakidemi (2014) found that Bradyrhizobium japonicum inoculation complemented with phosphorus application in cowpea enhanced the uptake of nutrients such as N and P. Similarly, Desta et al (2015) indicated that the inoculation of legume crops can improve nodulation capacity and nitrogen fixation, which, in turn, enhance nutrient uptake of fava bean.…”

“…Phosphorus is also critical for both establishments of nodulation and N 2 fixation. Poor nodulation and poor plant vigor are observed in legumes grown in soils low in extractable phosphorus (Desta et al, 2015;Wolde-meskel et al, 2018). Uchida (2000) revealed that phosphorus is vital in several key plant functions, including photosynthesis, transfer of energy, conversion of sugars and starches, movement of nutrients within the plant, and transmission of genetic traits from one generation to the next.…”

“…Thus, nodulation, N fixation, and detailed nodule activity are directly correlated to the phosphorus supply in the soil. Under phosphorus stress, strains of rhizobia vary in their capability to extract and incorporate phosphorus from the external environment (Ahiabor et al, 2014;Desta et al, 2015;Wolde-meskel et al, 2018). Phosphorus is, thus, the basis for effective legume nodulation and efficiency of symbiotic nitrogen fixation.…”

Influence of Phosphorus and Zinc Application on Leaf Area Ratio (LAR) of Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp) Varieties in the Scrub Savanna of Nigeria

“…Kang and van Iersel (2004) reported Leaf area ratio increased with increasing fertilizer concentration. Similarly, Weldua et al (2012) and Namakka et al (2017) while working on the effect of Zn and phosphorus application on yield at yield component of Faba bean (Vicia faba L.), and effect of phosphorus levels on cowpea reported that higher levels of P at 40 and 60 kgha -1 , and 29 and 39 kgPha -1 had higher (P<0.05) LAR than lower levels of 0 and 20, and 0 and 10 kgha -1 respectively. Increment of LAR due phosphorus application may be attributed to the activation of metabolic processes, where P is important nutrient that increases the leaf area ratio and improve the rate of photosynthetic assimilate (Yemane and Skjeivg, 2003) and (Mohammed et al, 2022).…”