Studies on the Exploitation of Rhizobial Potentiality for Berseem (Trifolium alexandrinum L.) under Saline-alkali Soils

In field experiments, inoculation with Rhizobium strain KB3, which was found to be comparatively salt tolerant, increased yield of berseem, N per cent and N uptake significantly over uninoculated control under the ameliorative influence of gypsum applied to the soil. Pelleting of inoculated seeds with gypsum gave additional significant increases in green and dry matter and N uptake by berseem crop. In medium saline-alkali soil (pH 8.9 and ESP 25.4), seed inoculation was effective even in unamended soil, while in high saline-alkali soil (pH 9.4 and ESP 42.6), seed inoculation did not respond without amendment or without pelleting. Magnitude of inoculation effect either alone or with pelleting was relatively high at increased doses of gypsum applied to the soil than that at lower doses.