Growth response of soybean to the application of Bradyrhizobium japonicum and foliar methanol spraying in field conditions

摘要

This experiment was carried out to study the effects of foliar methanol spraying and seed inoculation with Bradyrhizobiumjaponicumon phenology and growth of two soybean cultivars using a split-split plot layout with randomized complete block design in three replications. Two treatments of non-application and application of biofertilizer (B. japonicum) were compared in main plots. Three levels of methanol including: 0 (distilled water), 15 and 30 % (v/v) were assigned in subplots and two soybean cultivars including Clark and TMS were applied in sub-subplots. Growth stages of soybean including flowering, podding and physiological maturity, biomass dry weight and chlorophyll conent of leaves were determined. Results showed that podding stage of soybean was accelerated as the result of methanol spraying. Seed inoculation with B. japonicumincreased the plant biomass compared with control and foliar spraying by 15% methanol produced the highest rate of plant biomass in comparison with 30% methanol and control. The highest amount of leaf chlorophyll content was recorded by using of 15% methanol and inoculation of plant with B. japonicam. Numbers of days from sowing to different growth stages in TMS were significantlylower than those of Clark. TMS was superior than Clark in terms of biomass production and chlorophyll content. According to the results of this experiment seed inoculation with Bradyrhizobiumand foliar spraying by moderate concentration of methanol led to significant improvement in growth traits of soybean plants, and TMS was more compatible to regional conditions as compared with Clark cultiva