Effect of different methods of inoculation and co-inoculation of Bradyrhizobium spp. and Azospirillum brasilense on soybean agronomic performance in fields with a history of inoculation

ABSTRACT

The yield gain of soybean inoculated with Bradyrhizobium spp. or co-inoculated with Bradyrhizobium spp. and Azospirillum brasilense is variable. Inoculants can be applied in the sowing furrow or via seed treatment. There is a gap in our understanding of the efficacy of different inoculation methods. This study aimed to assess the agronomic efficiency of soybean inoculated and co-inoculated with Bradyrhizobium spp. and A. brasilense by different methods. The study was conducted in Paraná State, Brazil, in two seasons. Five treatments were tested: control; seed treatment with Bradyrhizobium spp. (S_Br), seed treatment with Bradyrhizobium spp. + A. brasilense (S_Br+Az), in-furrow treatment with Bradyrhizobium spp. (F_Br), and in-furrow treatment with Bradyrhizobium spp. + A. brasilense (F_Br+Az). Shoot dry weight, grain nitrogen content and grain yield were lower in 2018/19. In 2017/18, F_Br+Az increased nodule number and dry weight compared with S_Br. F_Br+Az promoted a 47% increase in pods per plant compared with the control in both seasons. Regardless of season, grain nitrogen content was higher with F_Br+Az (mean relative increase of 27%). F_Br+Az was superior to S_Br+Az in 2017/18, with a 12% increase in yield. Inoculation and co-inoculation improve morphological traits and soybean yield. In-furrow inoculation is more efficient than seed treatment.

KEYWORDS:

• Glycine max
• inoculant
• sowing furrow
• seed treatment
• yield

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).