SYMBIOTIC NITROGEN FIXATION AND SEED DEVELOPMENT OF GENETICALLY MODIFIED SOYBEAN IN RELATION TO BRADYRHIZOBIUM INOCULATION AND NITROGEN USE UNDER ACIDIC AND SALINE DYKELAND SOIL CONDITIONS

Abstract

The objectives of this study were to examine the effects of starter N inputs and Bradyrhizobium inoculation on soybean symbiotic N fixation and grain yield under field and greenhouse conditions. The study was conducted in the Wellington and the Habitant dykelands in NS. The treatments consisted of 0, 1.5, 3 and 4.5 g/kg seed rates of inoculant and 0, 10, 20, and 30 kg/ha rates of N fertilizer. Under acidic soil conditions, the inoculated plants showed significant N fixation responses in the Wellington field while saline soil conditions suppressed N fixation in the Habitant field. The soybean grain yield showed an increasing trend with the inoculant rate 4.5 g/kg seed. The starter N fertilizer did not facilitate the soybean grain yield in the dykelands. Under controlled environment conditions, inoculant rate 3 g/kg seed alone produced the same amount of yield as 1.5 and 4.5 g/kg seed rates with N fertilizer.