EFFECTIVENESS OF RHIZOBIUM INOCULATION ON PRODUCTIVITY OF COMMON BEAN (PHASEOLUS VULGARIS L.): INVESTIGATING THE EFFECT OF INDIGENOUS RHIZOBIA POPULATION

摘要

This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of rhizobial population on the effectiveness of locally isolated elite isolates of Rhizobium on common bean at the major growing area of Eastern Ethiopia. The result showed significant effect of inoculation, the varieties and their interaction on nodulation, yield and yield traits, except for the number of seed per pod. Most of tested Rhizobium isolates significantly improved the nodule number and nodules dry weight in all soils regardless of rhizobialpopulation. Significant increase in total biomass yield and grain yield of common bean was recorded with NSCBR-14, inorganic N-fertilized and NSCBR-(25)2 treatments in soil with a high, low and moderate rhizobial population, respectively. The highest values of most of the yield traits including NN and NDW in all experimental sites was recorded with Dursitu variety but the highest values GY and TBY with Kufanzik. Hence, the indigenous rhizobial population did not affect the effectiveness of inoculation but the soil types and varieties affect the effectiveness of the isolates.