Evaluating Effects of Bradyrhizobium and Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi Inoculation on Yield Components of Mung Bean (Vigna radiata (L.) Wilczek) and Nitrogen Fixation

Abstract

Mung beans (Vigna radiata (L.) Wilczek) are only inoculated in some production systems, but there is a current lack of knowledge on the best inoculants to use for effective nitrogen fixation (nodulation) and plant yields. The objectives of the present study were to determine if the dual inoculation of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi (F) and Bradyrhizobium (R) provides greater (a) mung bean yield and quality (b) nitrogen fixation for mung bean and residual soil nitrogen for the following crop, and (c) determine if these effects are consistent across various environments. Field trials were conducted in Blacksburg, VA (sandy clay loam), and Eastern Shore, VA (sandy loam), over the summers of 2020 and 2021. There were 5 treatments replicated 5 times for each variety at each site; R, F, R + F, high nitrogen (N) (100 kg ha−1), and a control, for a total of 25 plots per site. Mung beans grown in Blacksburg in 2020 and 2021 averaged 53.8% more seeds per pod than mung beans grown at the Eastern Shore. Overall yield components (seeds per pod, pods per plant) are heavily influenced by soil type. Dual inoculation significantly increased grain yield (+33%) compared to a synthetic N fertilizer application, but did not significantly increase grain yield compared to the control (+22%). Dual inoculation may increase the grain yields of mung beans compared to synthetic fertilizer regime, but does not show evidence of improving N fixation.