Effects of Co-Inoculating <i>Saccharomyces</i> spp. with <i>Bradyrhizobium japonicum</i> on Atmospheric Nitrogen Fixation in Soybeans (<i>Glycine max</i> (L.))
Obey Kudakwashe Zveushe,
Victor Resco de Dios,
Hengxing Zhang,
Fang Zeng,
Siqin Liu,
Songrong Shen,
Qianlin Kang,
Yazhen Zhang,
Miao Huang,
Ahmed Sarfaraz,
Matina Prajapati,
Lei Zhou,
Wei Zhang,
Ying Han,
Faqin Dong
Affiliations
Obey Kudakwashe Zveushe
School of Life Science and Engineering, Southwest University of Science and Technology, Mianyang 621010, China
Victor Resco de Dios
School of Life Science and Engineering, Southwest University of Science and Technology, Mianyang 621010, China
Hengxing Zhang
School of Life Science and Engineering, Southwest University of Science and Technology, Mianyang 621010, China
Fang Zeng
School of Life Science and Engineering, Southwest University of Science and Technology, Mianyang 621010, China
Siqin Liu
School of Life Science and Engineering, Southwest University of Science and Technology, Mianyang 621010, China
Songrong Shen
School of Life Science and Engineering, Southwest University of Science and Technology, Mianyang 621010, China
Qianlin Kang
School of Life Science and Engineering, Southwest University of Science and Technology, Mianyang 621010, China
Yazhen Zhang
School of Life Science and Engineering, Southwest University of Science and Technology, Mianyang 621010, China
Miao Huang
School of Life Science and Engineering, Southwest University of Science and Technology, Mianyang 621010, China
Ahmed Sarfaraz
School of Life Science and Engineering, Southwest University of Science and Technology, Mianyang 621010, China
Matina Prajapati
School of Life Science and Engineering, Southwest University of Science and Technology, Mianyang 621010, China
Lei Zhou
Fundamental Science on Nuclear Wastes and Environmental Safety Laboratory, Southwest University of Science and Technology, Mianyang 621010, China
Wei Zhang
Center of Analysis and Testing, Southwest University of Science and Technology, Mianyang 621010, China
Ying Han
School of Life Science and Engineering, Southwest University of Science and Technology, Mianyang 621010, China
Faqin Dong
School of Environment and Resource, Southwest University of Science and Technology, Mianyang 621010, China
Crop production encounters challenges due to the dearth of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P), while excessive chemical fertilizer use causes environmental hazards. The use of N-fixing microbes and P-solubilizing microbes (PSMs) can be a sustainable strategy to overcome these problems. Here, we conducted a greenhouse pot experiment following a completely randomized blocked design to elucidate the influence of co-inoculating N-fixing bacteria (Bradyrhizobium japonicum) and PSMs (Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Saccharomyces exiguus) on atmospheric N2-fixation, growth, and yield. The results indicate a significant influence of interaction on Indole-3-acetic acid production, P solubilization, seedling germination, and growth. It was also found that atmospheric N2-fixation, nodule number per plant, nodule dry weight, straw, and root dry weight per plant at different growth stages were significantly increased under dual inoculation treatments relative to single inoculation or no inoculation treatment. Increased seed yield and N and P accumulation were also noticed under co-inoculation treatments. Soil available N was highest under sole bacterial inoculation and lowest under the control treatment, while soil available P was highest under co-inoculation treatments and lowest under the control treatment. We demonstrated that the co-inoculation of N-fixing bacteria and PSMs enhances P bioavailability and atmospheric N2-fixation in soybeans leading to improved soil fertility, raising crop yields, and promoting sustainable agriculture.
