Combined use of Rhizobium inoculation and low phosphorus application increased plant growth, root nodulation and grain yield of common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) in Ethiopia

Highlights

	● Two bean cultivars responded strongly to Rhizobium inoculation in both 2012 and 2013, relative to uninoculated control.
	● Inoculating bean with strain HB-429 increased shoot biomass, nodule number, and nodule dry matter per plant.
	● Rhizobial inoculation of bean increased pod number per plant, seed number per pod, and grain yield.
	● Applying P to bean increased shoot biomass, nodule number, and nodule dry matter per plant.
	● The combined use of Rhizobium inoculation and low P application is recommended for bean production in Ethiopia.

Abstract

Bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) yields in Africa can be increased through the application of phosphorus and nitrogen fertilizers, as both nutrients are low in African soils. However, using greener technologies is preferred to mineral fertilizers for maintaining soil health. In this study, Rhizobium inoculation and moderate P supply (0, 10, 20, and 30 kg·ha⁻¹) to two bean cultivars were evaluated in consecutive years at Hawassa for their effects on plant growth, nodulation, and grain yield. The results showed that, relative to the uninoculated control, the two bean cultivars responded strongly to Rhizobium inoculation, with strain HB-429 outperforming strain GT-9 in both 2012 and 2013. Shoot biomass, nodule number and nodule dry matter per plant were increased by 9%, 40%, and 54%, respectively, in 2012, and by 20%, 39%, and 13% in 2013 with strain HB-429 inoculation. This resulted in increased pod number per plant, seed number per pod and grain yield by 56%, 51%, and 49% in 2012, and by 38%, 25%, and 69% in 2013, respectively, with strain HB-429 inoculation. Bean inoculation with GT-9 also increased grain yield by 35% and 68% in 2012 and 2013, respectively. Applying 10–30 kg·ha⁻¹ P to bean cultivars increased shoot biomass, nodule number, and nodule dry matter per plant by 7% to 39%, 23% to 59%, and 59% to 144% in 2012, respectively, and by 10% to 40%, 21% to 43%, and 12% to 35% in 2013, respectively. Relative to the zero-P control, adding only 10 kg·ha⁻¹ P increased pod number per plant, seed number per pod, and grain yield by 10%, 30%, and 61% in 2012, and by 11%, 11%, and 38% in 2013, respectively. The combined use of Rhizobium inoculation with low P application (20 kg·ha⁻¹) was found to increase bean production in Ethiopia and is thus recommended to resource-poor farmers.

Graphical abstract

Keywords

Bean cultivars / grain yield / Hawassa Dume / Ibbado / nodule dry matter / nodule number / pod number per plant / seed number per pod / shoot biomass

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Acknowledgements

This study was supported with funds from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF) under the auspices of the BMGF project on Capacity Building in Africa (awarded to Tshwane University of Technology, Pretoria). Tarekegn Y. Samago is grateful to the Gates Foundation for a competitive doctoral fellowship awarded under the BMGF project to Hawassa University for study leave. The National Research Fund (NRF), the South African Research Chair in Agrochemurgy and Plant Symbioses, and the Tshwane University of Technology are duly acknowledged for their continued funding support of Felix D. Dakora.

Compliance with ethics guidelines

Tarekegn Y. Samago and Felix D. Dakora declare that they have no conflicts of interest or financial conflicts to disclose. All applicable institutional and national guidelines for the care and use of animals were followed.

RIGHTS & PERMISSIONS

The Author(s) 2024. Published by Higher Education Press. This is an open access article under the CC BY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0)