Changes in nutrient status of soybean in relation to Bradyrhizobium japonicum and salycilic acid application under low phosphorus and water supply

Abstract

Phosphorus (P) deficiency of soil and drought are major environmental constraints, which alter key physiological constituents and functions in plants. The study was carried out to determine the influence of rhizobacteria Bradyrhizobium japonicum and salicylic acid (SA) on particularities of soybean mineral nutrition under low P supply and drought conditions. Plants were treated with two regimes of irrigation water: normal soil moisture, 70% of water holding soil capacity (WHC) and 35% of WHC as drought. The bacterial suspension of Bradyrhizobium japonicum was applied as seeds treatment and SA by foliage treatment (0,5mM). Plants cultivated under P insufficiency and drought exhibited lower physiological parameters. Experimental data demonstrated that integrated application of nitrogen-fixer bacteria and SA better improved phosphorus and potassium contents in leaves.