TITLE:
Macronutrients Uptake in Soybean as Affected by Bradyrhizobium japonicum Inoculation and Phosphorus (P) Supplements
AUTHORS:
Eutropia V. Tairo, Patrick A. Ndakidemi
KEYWORDS:
Legumes; Plant Nutrients; Nitrogen (N); Phosphorus (P); Potassium (K); Calcium (Ca); Magnesium (Mg)
JOURNAL NAME:
American Journal of Plant Sciences,
Vol.5 No.4,
February
26,
2014
ABSTRACT: Field and glasshouse experiments were conducted to
study the effect of B. japonicum inoculation and phosphorus supplementation on macronutrient uptake by soybean. The
treatments consisted of B. japonicum inoculation (with & without), phosphorus supplementation at the levels of 0,
20, 40 and 80 kg P·ha-1. Both treatments were replicated four times
in a split plot design. The macronutrients considered were N, P, K, Ca and Mg. Results
showed that inoculation with B. japonicum significantly contribute to the uptake of N, P, K, Ca and Mg in roots, shoots, pods and the whole soybean plant. Likewise,
phosphorus supplementation significantly enhanced the uptake of N, P, K, Ca and Mg in roots, shoots, pods
and the whole plant. The use of effective strains of rhizobia and P
supplementation was an effective way of enhancing the growth of soybean,
eventually the uptake of macronutrients in
plant organs.