Abstract
Identification of effective indigenous rhizobia isolates would lead to development of efficient and affordable rhizobia inoculants. These can promote nitrogen fixation in smallholder farming systems of Kenya. To realize this purpose, two experiments were conducted under greenhouse conditions using two common bean cultivars; Mwezi moja (bush type) and Mwitemania (climbing type) along with soybean cultivar SB 8. In the first experiment, the common bean cultivars were treated with rhizobia inoculants including a consortium of native isolates, commercial isolate (CIAT 899), a mixture of native isolates and CIAT 899, and a control with no inoculation. After 30 days, the crop was assessed for nodulation, shoot and root dry weights, and morphological features. In the second experiment, soybean was inoculated with a consortium of native isolates, commercial inoculant (USDA 110), and a mixture of commercial and native isolates. Remarkably, the native isolates significantly (p<0.001) increased nodulation and shoot dry weight across the two common bean varieties compared to the commercial inoculant, CIAT 899. Mixing of the native rhizobia species and commercial inoculant did not show any further increase in nodulation and shoot performance in both crops. Further field studies will ascertain the effectiveness and efficiency of the tested indigenous isolates.
Highlights
Despite record-high economic growth rates over the past five years, Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) still remains by far the poorest region of the world [1]
A loopful of the derived suspension was streaked on Yeast Extract Mannitol Agar (YEMA) with Congo Red (CR) and Bromothymol Blue (BTB) and incubated at 28∘C [10]
Two native rhizobia groups were recovered from the desiccated common bean root nodules
Summary
Despite record-high economic growth rates over the past five years, Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) still remains by far the poorest region of the world [1]. This is attributed to the state of food security in SSA undermined by widespread poverty and little use of modern farming and production-enhancing technologies. Many countries in SSA including Kenya are food insecure. Food insecurity is directly linked to various causes such as low soil fertility, diseases, and practice of extractive and unsustainable farming procedures like continuous cropping [2]. To address the problem of decreasing food production and livelihoods resulting from declining soil fertility, the conservation and sustainable use of soil microorganisms are critical [3]. Many farmers in SSA are not able to purchase the expensive mineral nitrogen fertilizers
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