Effect of <i>Rhizobium</i> sp. BARIRGm901 inoculation on nodulation, nitrogen fixation and yield of soybean (<i>Glycine max</i>) genotypes in gray terrace soil

<div><p>Soybean plants require high amounts of nitrogen, which are mainly obtained from biological nitrogen fixation. A field experiment was conducted by soybean (<i>Glycine max</i>) genotypes, growing two varieties (Shohag and BARI Soybean6) and two advanced lines (MTD10 and BGM02026) of soybean with or without <i>Rhizobium</i> sp. BARIRGm901 inoculation. Soybean plants of all genotypes inoculated with <i>Rhizobium</i> sp. BARIRGm901 produced greater nodule numbers, nodule weight, shoot and root biomass, and plant height than non-inoculated plants. Similarly, inoculated plants showed enhanced activity of nitrogenase (NA) enzyme, contributing to higher nitrogen fixation and assimilation, compared to non-inoculated soybean plants in both years. Plants inoculated with <i>Rhizobium</i> sp. BARIRGm901 also showed higher pod, stover, and seed yield than non-inoculated plants. Therefore, <i>Rhizobium</i> sp. BARIRGm901 established an effective symbiotic relationship with a range of soybean genotypes and thus increased the nodulation, growth, and yield of soybean grown in gray terrace soils in Bangladesh.</p>