<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><p>There has been an increasing interest in soybean cultivation in hydroponic systems. Because soybean plants can utilize nitrogen derived from biological N<sub>2</sub> fixation, the use of <italic>Rhizobium</italic> inoculated plants may eliminate or decrease the need for mineral nitrogen fertilization in hydroponic systems. Thus, the objective of this study was to establish effective methods for making inoculated soybean transplants for a substrate-based hydroponic system. Inoculated plants were effectively produced by rooting seedling stem cuttings in a medium containing a <italic>Rhizobium</italic> inoculant. We also investigated the effects of different nitrogen forms and sub-irrigated nutrient solution concentrations on the growth and root nodule formation of the inoculated plants. The application of a nitrogen-free nutrient solution had minimal positive effects on the growth and nodulation of the inoculated plants. Ammonium-fed plants lacked root nodules regardless of the ammonium concentration. Furthermore, a 50% nutrient solution combining with nitrate or urea as the nitrogen source did not promote root nodulation. Therefore, inoculated plants should be subirrigated with an approximately 25% nutrient solution supplemented with nitrate or urea to induce early growth and nodulation prior to transplantation.</p></abstract>

There has been an increasing interest in soybean cultivation in hydroponic systems. Because soybean plants can utilize nitrogen derived from biological N2 fixation, the use of Rhizobium inoculated plants may eliminate or decrease the need for mineral nitrogen fertilization in hydroponic systems. Thus, the objective of this study was to establish effective methods for making inoculated soybean transplants for a substrate-based hydroponic system. Inoculated plants were effectively produced by rooting seedling stem cuttings in a medium containing a Rhizobium inoculant. We also investigated the effects of different nitrogen forms and sub-irrigated nutrient solution concentrations on the growth and root nodule formation of the inoculated plants. The application of a nitrogen-free nutrient solution had minimal positive effects on the growth and nodulation of the inoculated plants. Ammonium-fed plants lacked root nodules regardless of the ammonium concentration. Furthermore, a 50% nutrient solution combining with nitrate or urea as the nitrogen source did not promote root nodulation. Therefore, inoculated plants should be subirrigated with an approximately 25% nutrient solution supplemented with nitrate or urea to induce early growth and nodulation prior to transplantation.

Production of Soybean Plants for Hydroponic Cultivation from Seedling Cuttings in a Medium Containing <italic>R<sc>hizobium</sc></italic> Inoculum Depending on Various Concentrations of Nutrient Solution and Different Nitrogen Sources

Journal of Horticultural Research

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Production of Soybean Plants for Hydroponic Cultivation from Seedling Cuttings in a Medium Containing  Inoculum Depending on Various Concentrations of Nutrient Solution and Different Nitrogen Sources

There has been an increasing interest in soybean cultivation in hydroponic systems. Because soybean plants can utilize nitrogen derived from biological N2...

Production of Soybean Plants for Hydroponic Cultivation from Seedling Cuttings in a Medium Containing Rhizobium Inoculum Depending on Various Concentrations of Nutrient Solution and Different Nitrogen Sources

Published Online: Nov 06, 2020

Page range: 71 - 82

Received: Jan 01, 2020

Accepted: Jun 01, 2020

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/johr-2020-0015

Keywords
ammonium, nitrate, urea, subirrigation, substrate hydroponic system

© 2020 Naoki Hata et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Production of Soybean Plants for Hydroponic Cultivation from Seedling Cuttings in a Medium Containing Rhizobium Inoculum Depending on Various Concentrations of Nutrient Solution and Different Nitrogen Sources

Published Online: Nov 06, 2020

Page range: 71 - 82

Received: Jan 01, 2020

Accepted: Jun 01, 2020

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/johr-2020-0015

Keywordsammonium, nitrate, urea, subirrigation, substrate hydroponic system

© 2020 Naoki Hata et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Keywords
ammonium, nitrate, urea, subirrigation, substrate hydroponic system