Effect of inoculation with fast - and slow-growing rhizobia on soybean (cv.Tropical) in an acid soil as affected by liming

Abstract

The experiment was conducted in order to evaluate the effect of selected fast and slow-growing rhizobia strains (NFB 175, SEMIA 542) on nitrogen fixation and development of soybean, Glycine max (L.) Merril, (cv. Tropical) (Leguminosae-Faboideae) growing in acid soil of the “Zona da Mata” of the Brazilian Northeast submitted to different levels of lime (0, 2, 4 e 8 t ha ^-1). Commercial inoculant and treatment without inoculation were applied for comparative purpose. It was observed effect of rhizobia inoculation on nodules dry biomass, nitrogenase activity, shoot dry biomass and total N total yield. The fast and slow growing rhizobia strains NFB 175 and SEMIA 542 are as effective as commercial inoculant. The addition of lime had benefit on nitrogen fixation and soybean growth. However, it was observed negative effects of lime in higher levels when used on fast and slow-growing strains, indicating the need of liming control on soybean growing in acid soils