Soybean nodulation and nitrogen fixation on soil previously amended with sewage sludge

Summary

A greenhouse study was conducted to examine the residual effects of sewage sludge on soybean Glycine max (L.) Merr., nodulation, and N fixation. Nodulating and nonnodulating isolines of Clark soybean were grown to the R2 stage in soils (Typic Paleudults) obtained from plots where heat-treated sludge had been applied in 1976 at rates equal to 0, 56,112, and 224 Mg ha⁻¹ high (7.0) and low (6.2) soil pH regimes were established by CaCO₃ additions. Sludge and soil pH treatments resulted in clearly defined differences in metal uptake by soybean shoots. Plant Zn, Cd, and Ni concentrations were greater on pH 6.2, sludge-amended soil than on the pH 7.0, amended soil. At low soil pH, soybean Zn and Cd concentrations, respectively, increased from 41 and 0.19 mg kg⁻¹ (control) to 120 and 0.58 mg kg⁻¹ at the 224 Mg hat sludge rate. At the high soil pH and 224 hg hat sludge rate, Zn and Cd concentrations were 45 and 0.15 mg kg⁻¹, respectively.

Symbiotic N fixation provided 90% of the total N accumulation. Total N accumulation, shoot N concentration, dry matter, and N fixation by nodulating soybeans exhibited a significant linear increase with sludge rate. Total N accumulation, dry matter, and N fixation were significantly greater at high soil pH. For high and low soil pH, respectively, N fixation increased from 422 and 382 mg N per plant (control) to 614 and 518 mg N per plant at the 224 Mg ha⁻¹ sludge rate. While soybean nodulation also increased linearly on sludge-amended soil, a significant rate times pH interaction for nodule number indicated that nodulation was less strongly enhanced by sludge at low soil pH.