Effects of bacteria inoculation and iron application on nodulation, biomass and grain yield in peanut

A two year field experiment was carried out to determine the effects of bacterial inoculation and iron application on nodulation, biomass and grain yield at Cukurova University Agricultural Research and Experiment Farm. NC-7 and ÇOM peanut varieties which are widely grown at Cukurova region were used as the test plant. Two different Fe applications (Fe0: 0 ppm and Fe1: 5 ppm) and 3 different Rhizobium strain (B0: non inoculated-natural bacteria; B2:strain nr. 380 and B1:strain nr. 378) inoculation were realized. Nodule, root, shoot and root, shoot, grain samples were collected at flowering and harvest stages, respectively, for both first and second crop cultivations. Results obtained revealed that bacterial inoculation increased root and shoot nitrogen contents at flowering stages whereas decreased grain nitrogen contents at harvesting stages. B2 strain was more effective then B1. At the flowering stage bacterial inoculation stimulated both nodule number and weight however same applications increased shoot-N contents but decreased grain-N contents at the harvest stage. Iron application has considerably increased biomass weight, nodulation and nitrogen contents of the plants. Determined parameters indicate that ÇOM variety was more effective than that NC-7. Key Words: Bacteria, Iron fertilizer , Peanut, Simbiotic N2- Fixation