Effects of seed inoculation by Rhizobium strains on yield and yield components in common bean cultivars (Phaseolus vulgaris L.)

Abstract

To study the effect of Rhizobium inoculation treatments (inoculation with strains number 133, 116 and their integrated application) and chemical nitrogen fertilizer application (based on soil analysis in form of Urea) on certain agronomic traits of three common bean cultivars (viz. Bahman, Darkhshan and Sayyad) a field experiment was conducted at Agricultural Research Farm of College of Agriculture, University of Tehran (Karaj, Iran) during 2010 and 2011 growing seasons. The treatments arranged as factorial based on a randomized complete block design with three replications. The characteristics such as seed yield, pods number per plant, 100 seed weight, harvest index and biological yield were measured. Inoculated bean cultivars by rhizobium strain 116 produced the highest bean grain yield (5791 kg/ha). Bahman cv. inoculated by rhizobium strains 133+116 produced the highest number of pods per plant (55.97 pods/plant). Sayyad cultivar inoculated by rhizobium strain 116 produced the highest seed yield. Under the environmental conditions of this experiment, application of rhizobium strains proved to have the capability to replace the chemical nitrogen fertilizer in bean production.