ORIGINAL RESEARCH
Nitrogen Application and Seed Inoculation with
Bradyrhizobium japonicum Bacteria Improved
Yield and Quality Traits of Soybean [Glycine
max (L.) Merrill] Grown as Second Crop
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1
GAP Agricultural Research Institute Directorate, General Directorate of Agricultural Research and Policies,
63040, Şanlıurfa, Türkiye
2
University of Harran, Faculty of Agriculture, Department of Field Crops, Osmanbey Campus, 63190, Şanlıurfa, Türkiye
Submission date: 2024-04-03
Final revision date: 2024-07-10
Acceptance date: 2024-08-15
Online publication date: 2024-10-21
Corresponding author
Hasan Haliloğlu
University of Harran, Faculty of Agriculture, Department of Field Crops, Osmanbey Campus, 63190, Şanlıurfa, Türkiye
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ABSTRACT
Nitrogen-fixing bacteria are essential for providing nitrogen (N) to soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merrill)
plants, often resulting in a reduced or eliminated requirement for N-fertilizer. The application
of these microorganisms can enhance N fixation and maximize soybean yield. Soybean is attaining
significant attention in southeastern Anatolia as a second crop; however, the interactive effects of Nfixing
bacteria and N doses on its yield are still unknown. This study investigated the effects of N application
and seed inoculation with Bradyrhizobium japonicum bacteria on yield and quality attributes
of soybean grown as a second crop during 2021 and 2022. Seed inoculation (bacteria-inoculated or
non-inoculated) were the main plots, whereas N doses [0 (N0), 40 (N1), 80 (N2), 120 (N3), 160 (N4),
200 (N5), 240 (N6), and 280 (N7) kg ha-1 were sub plots. Bacteria inoculation and N doses significantly
(p≤0.01) altered the number of pods per plant, plant height, thousand seed weight, grain yield, protein
ratio, and oil ratio. The highest (3645 kg ha-1) and the lowest (3072 kg ha-1) grain yield was recorded for
bacteria-inoculated and non-inoculated seeds, respectively. Similarly, N7 (3628 kg ha-1) and N0 (2791 kg
ha-1) produced the highest and the lowest grain yield, respectively. Regression analysis revealed that
144 kg ha-1 pure N should be applied for the cultivation of the second crop soybean under the climatic
conditions of Şanlıurfa, Türkiye, and seeds should be inoculated with B. japonicum for better yield
and economic returns.