EFFECT OF RHIZOBIUM STRAINS AND PHOSPHORUS ON GROWTH OF SOYBEAN (GLYCINE MAX) AND SURVIVAL OF RHIZOBIUM AND P SOLUBILIZING BACTERIA

Pot experiments were conducted to evaluate the effect of Rhizobium leguminosarum strains (TAL-377, TAL-379 and TAL-102) alone and in combination with Phosphorus on soybean. The parameters studied were survival of Rhizobium at pod filling stage and after harvesting, and root/ shoot dry and fresh weight of soybean under natural condition. Surface stererilized soybean seeds var. NARC-4 were sown in earthen pots filled with soil and sand 1:3. Phosphorus (P) was applied as single super phosphate (SSP) at the time of sowing in the soil. Soybean seeds were inoculated with Rhizobium strains as seed coating just before sowing. The effect of growth was highly significant (α 0.05) with an increase in root/shoot dry and fresh weight in plants with mixture of Rhizobium inoculums with phosphorus on soybean. Among three strains TAL-102 performed well as compared to TAL-377 and 379 Rhizobium strains. The CFU count of Rhizobium and P solubilizing bacteria was found maximum both at pod filling and after harvesting stage when Rhizobium strains and P was applied in mixed culture. A mixture of effective strains with phosphorus is a promising way for enhancing the growth of legume crops.