EFFECTIVENESS OF RHIZOBIAL STRAINS ON THE FABA BEAN DEVELOPMENT AND YIELD IN SODDY PODZOLIC SOILS

Abstract

In the frame of EU 7th Research Framework Programme of The European Union project EUROLEGUME (Enhancing of legumes growing in Europe through sustainable cropping for protein supplay for food and feed) two Rhizobium leguminosarium strains alone and in mixture were examinated to evaluate the influence on yield formation of faba bean (Vicia faba L.) ‘Lielplatones’. The field experiment was carried out at the Institute of Agricultural Resources and Economics between 2014 -2016 in the organic cropping system field. The beans seeds were treated with rhizobia fungi by soaking in bacteria suspension for 30 minutes before sowing. A plant high was measured at the beginning of flowering (BBCH 61- 64), at the beginning of forming pods (BBCH 71- 75) and at the beginning of maturity (BBCH 81- 85). The inoculation of plant seeds promotes a slight increase in the plant length. The highest yield was from seeds inoculated with strain R2. There were no significant differences between tested strains. The results of this investigation indicate that rhizobium inoculation is a recommendable management tool for faba beans generally but effectiveness of rhizobial strains strongly depending climate conditions. Seed treatment with Rhizobium contributed to an increase in the quantity of nitrogen in the soil.