Inoculation of rhizobium bacteria and nutrient of seawater to increase soybean production and quality as food

Abstract

Seawater is abundant natural resources not fully utilized even though it contains nutrients needed by plant like N, P, K, Ca, and Mg. On the other hand rhizobium capable of forming effective root nodules of association with legumes and fix nitrogen. The research aim was to get information the benefit of seawater and rhizobium inoculation for soybean as food. The research held in green house of Animal Husbandry and Agriculture Faculty, Diponegoro University Semarang. Seawater was taken from Semarang Marina Beach. Soybean was local bean of Grobogan. The arranged design was completely randomized design with factorial design 4 x 2 in 4 replications. First factor was salinity level of seawater in a row L0, L1, L2, and L3 was EC 0, 1, 2, and 3 ds/m. Second factor was Rhizobium inoculation, R1 = without rhizobium inoculation, and R2 = with Rhizobium inoculation. The parameters were seed production, fresh weight production of straw, crude protein and crude fiber production of soybean seed. Based on variant analysis, there was no interaction seawater salinity level and rhizobium inoculation againt to all of the parameters. Seawater level and rhizobium inoculation tended to increase production and quality of soybean. The best result was treatment L2R2, that is EC 2 ds/m with rhizobium inoculation. The seed soybean production was 3191.25 kg/ha equal to 3,2 ton/ha, with 42.54 % crude protein content of seed, and 13.87 % crude fiber content of seed.