SELECTION OF SUPERIOR PEAT-BASED BRADYRHIZOBIUM INOCULANTS FOR THE CULTIVATION OF INDIGO (INDIGOFERA TINCTORIA L.)

The pot experiment was conducted to the peat-based Bradyrhizobium inoculants as biofertilizer for cultivation of indigo (Indigofera tinctoria L.). Six isolates of Bradyrhizobium of indigo origin (HSTU-IR2, HSTU-1R(3) HSTU-IR4. HSTU-IR9, HSTU-IR10 and HSTU-IR14) were collected from the Department of Soil Science, Hajee Mohammad Danesh Science and Technology University (HSTU), Dinajpur, Bangladesh. Peat-based Bradyrhizobium inoculants were prepared with these six isolates and the inoculants were tested for their effects on nodulation, growth and yield of indigo plants through a pot experiment. The results revealed that the isolate HSTU-1R3 recorded the highest number and weight of nodules, more amount of N content in nodules, highest plant shoot and weight. The isolate HSTU-IR4 and HSTU-IR3 produced the tallest plant, largest shoots and roots N content. Based on the overall results two isolates viz. HSTU-IR3 and HSTU-IR4 performed superior to others.