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The effects of soybean cultivar, rhizobium strain and nitrate on plant growth, nodule mass and acetylene reduction rate

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Summary

The effects of twelve strains ofBradyrhizobium japonicum and ten cultivars of soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.) on plant and nodule weights, and acetylene reduction rates (33 to 41 days) were measured in the presence and absence of 6mM nitrate. No interactions between strains and cultivars were observed. Strain by nitrate interactions were found for plant and nodule weights, and acetylene reduction rates per gram of nodule. Cultivar by nitrate interactions were found for nodule weights, acetylene reduction rates per plant and per gram of nodule. Blackhawk with all strains, and all cultivars with strains 110 and CB 1809, seemed to be able to grow as well in the absence of nitrate (utilizing nodule fixation) as in its presence.

The problems of identifying strains and cultivars with especially good nitrogen fixing ability in the presence of nitrate are discussed.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Agriculture Canada Research Station, Harrow, Ontario, Canada

    B. R. Buttery & V. A. Dirks

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  1. B. R. Buttery
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  2. V. A. Dirks
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Buttery, B.R., Dirks, V.A. The effects of soybean cultivar, rhizobium strain and nitrate on plant growth, nodule mass and acetylene reduction rate. Plant Soil 98, 285–293 (1987). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02374832

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02374832

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