The response of soybean plants due to inoculation of rhizobium bacteria and different fertilizer application

Abstract The research aimed to obtain information on the benefits of Rhizobium bacteria inoculation with various types of fertilizers in increasing soybean growth and production. The study was conducted in the greenhouse of the Ecology and Crop Production Laboratory, Faculty of Animal and Agricultural Sciences, Diponegoro University, Semarang. The soybean seeds used were Anjasmoro. The experimental design was a completely randomized design with 3 x 4 factorial patterns with 4 replications. The first factor was Rhizobium bacterial inoculation including: R1 = without inoculation (control), R2 = Inoculation when planting, R3 = Inoculation 14 days after planting. The second factor was the type of fertilizer treatment includes: P1 = urea 75 kg/ha, P2 = cow manure 7.5 tons/ha, P3 = urea 75 kg/ha + zeolite 7.5 tons/ha, P4 = cow manure 7.5 tons/ha + zeolite 7.5 tons/ha. The parameters observed included plant height, number of leaves, number of branches, number of effective nodules, and number of pods. The data obtained were analyzed of variance analysis and continued with Duncan’s Multiple Range Test (DMRT). The results showed Rhizobium bacterial inoculation significantly increases the growth and production of Anjasmoro soybeans both given when planting and 14 days after planting. Fertilization with 7.5 tons of manure/ha shows Anjasmoro soybean growth and production which was equivalent to 75 kg/ha of urea fertilizer.