Inoculation of suitable rhizobia enhances biological nitrogen fixation in soybean production and are economically viable for use among smallholder farmers due to its low price over inorganic commercial fertilizer blends. In Mozambique, inoculants are available in liquid or solid form (powder/peat or granular). Field studies were conducted in 2017 and 2018 seasons in three agroecologies (Angonia, Nampula and Ruace) in Mozambique to evaluate the performance of inoculants when applied directly to soil and on seed before planting. Data on nodulation, plant growth, nitrogen fixed, 13C isotope discrimination related water use efficiency, yield and yield components were analyzed in Statistical Analysis System® 9.4. Nodulation, yield, and yield components were significant for the different application methods, and solid form tended to be better than liquid form. The nitrogen derived from atmosphere (%Ndfa) were 45.3%, 44.2% and 43.6% with a yield of 2672, 1752 and 2246 kg ha 1 for Angonia, Nampula and Ruace, respectively. Overall, inoculants applied on soil or seed increase the amount of biologically fixed nitrogen and has the potential of improving soybean productivity in Mozambique.

https://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.102639

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Canon Norris Savala Engokehttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-9667-2324

David Chikoyehttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-6047-9821

Stephen Boahen Asaberehttps://orcid.org/0000-0001-8946-401X

https://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.102639

Plant Production and Health

Agronomy; Crop Systems; Food Security; Grain Legumes; Plant Breeding; Plant Health; Plant Production; Soybean

Carbon Isotopes; Nodulation; Soybeans; Rhizobiaceae; Water Use Efficiency; Yields

Africa; Southern Africa

Mozambique

Southern Africa Hub