Improvement of Faba Bean Yield Using Rhizobium/Agrobacterium Inoculant in Low-Fertility Sandy Soil

Abstract

Soil fertility is one of the major limiting factors for crop's productivity in Egypt and the world in general. Biological nitrogen fixation (BNF) has a great importance as a non-polluting and a cost-effective way to improve soil fertility through supplying N to different agricultural systems. Faba bean (Vicia faba L.) is one of the most efficient nitrogen-fixing legumes that can meet all of their N needs through BNF. Therefore, understanding the impact of rhizobial inoculation and contrasting soil rhizobia on nodulation and N 2 fixation in faba bean is crucial to optimize the crop yield, particularly under low fertility soil conditions. This study investigated the symbiotic effectiveness of 17 Rhizobium/Agrobacterium strains previously isolated from different Egyptian governorates in improving the nodulation and N 2 fixation in faba bean cv. Giza 843 under controlled greenhouse conditions. Five strains that had a high nitrogen-fixing capacity under greenhouse conditions were subsequently tested in field trials as faba bean inoculants at Ismaillia Governorate in northeast Egypt in comparison with the chemical N-fertilization treatment (96 kg N·ha −1 ). A starter N-dose (48 kg N·ha −1 ) was applied in combination with different Rhizobium inoculants. The field experiments were established at sites without a background of inoculation under low fertility sandy soil conditions over two successive winter growing seasons, 2012/2013 and 2013/2014. Under greenhouse conditions, inoculated plants produced significantly higher nodules dry weight, plant biomass, and shoot N-uptake than non-inoculated ones. In the first season (2012/2013), inoculation of field-grown faba bean showed significant improvements in seed yield (3.73-4.36 ton·ha −1 ) and seed N-yield (138-153 Kg N·ha −1 ), which were higher than the uninoculated control (48 kg N·ha −1 ) that produced 2.97 Kg·ha −1 and 95 kg N·ha −1 , respectively. Similarly, in the second season (2013/2014), inoculation significantly improved seed yield (3.16-4.68 ton·ha −1 ) and seed N-yield (98-155 Kg N·ha −1 ) relative to the uninoculated control (48 kg N·ha −1 ), which recorded 2.58 Kg·ha −1 and 80 kg N·ha −1 , respectively. Interestingly, faba bean inoculated with strain Rlv NGB-FR 126 showed significant increments in seed yield (35%-48%) and seed N-yield (34%-49%) compared to the inorganic N fertilizers treatment (96 kg N·ha −1 ) over the two cropping seasons, respectively. These results indicate that inoculation of faba bean with effective rhizobial strains can reduce the need for inorganic N fertilization to achieve higher crop yield under low fertility soil conditions.

Effect of seed priming with aqueous extracts of carrot roots, garlic cloves or ascorbic acid on the yield of Vicia faba grown under drought stress

“…Faba bean (Vicia faba L.) is an important legume crop in Egypt, and it categorizes as the fourth most important legume crop in the world, after dry beans, dry peas and chickpeas (Abid et al, 2015). The production of faba bean is not adequate to meet domestic demand, and Egypt is presently the world's largest faba bean importer (Youseif et al, 2017). Increasing faba bean production is one of the foremost vital objectives of agricultural policy in Egypt (Dawood et al, 2014).…”

Determination of the Rate of Rhizobial Biofertilizers for Faba Bean (V. faba), in the Major Growing Areas of Arsi Zone

“…Inorganic Nitrogen is required by legume plants during the 'nitrogen hunger period' for their nodule development, shoot and root growth before the onset of N2-fixation. The success of legume grain crops is dependent on their capacity to form effective nitrogen-fixing symbioses with root-nodule bacteria (Youseif et al, 2017) it was mentioned in other legumes that high N affect N fixation but interestingly, faba bean differs from many other legumes and maintains its N-fixing capabilities, even if soils are relatively rich in N(Etemadi et al, 2019). However, many soils may not have adequate amounts of native rhizobia in terms of number, quality, or effectiveness to enhance biological nitrogen fixation.…”

Response of Faba Bean to Starter Nitrogen Dose Application and Rhizobial Inoculation in the Major Growing Areas of Arsi Zone

“…Starter nitrogen caused decline in grain yield that was explained could suppress nodulation and hence yield related parameters, but it was also noted that a moderate dose of starter-N demonstrated to stimulate seedling growth and subsequent nitrogen fixation .Inorganic Nitrogen is required by legume plants during the 'nitrogen hunger period' for their nodule development, shoot and root growth before the onset of N2-fixation. The success of legume grain crops is dependent on their capacity to form effective nitrogen-fixing symbioses with root-nodule bacteria (Youseif et al, 2017). However, many soils may do not have adequate amounts of native rhizobia in terms of number, quality, or effectiveness to enhance biological nitrogen fixation.…”