Effects of phosphorus fertilization and Pseudomonas fluorescens strain on the growth and yield of faba bean (Vicia faba L.)

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted in Lihijan, Iran in 2013 to evaluate the effect of phosphorus fertilization (P) and Pseudomonas fluorescens strain on the growth and yield of the faba bean. The experiment used a randomized complete block design with a factorial treatment arrangement and three replicates. The experimental factors were phosphorus application (0 and 25 kg ha-1) and P. fluorescens strains (non-inoculated, strain 136, and strain 168). ANOVA showed a significant interaction effect of P and P. fluorescens strain on plant height, pod number per plant, 100 grain weight, pod length, and pod and grain yield. ANOVA also showed that grain number per pod was significantly affected by P application and P. fluorescens strain, while haulm yield was significantly affected only by P. fluorescens strain. In the absence of P, the grain yield of inoculated plants was not significantly different from that of non-inoculated plants. In the presence of P (25 kg ha-1), strain 168 showed an increase in grain yield of 42% and 65% over strain 136 and non-inoculated plants, respectively. The results indicated that application of phosphorus (25 kg ha-1) and seed inoculation with P. fluorescens strain 168 can be recommended to increase grain/pod yield significantly.