Evaluation of native Rhizobium leguminosarum bv. viceae of pea plants (Pisum sativum L.) for nodulation efficiency and yield promotion in lentil crop (Lens culnaris Medik.) under acid soil

Most leguminous crops including lentil require neutral to slightly acidic range of soil pH for favourable nodulation and nitrogen fixation. The quest for acid soil compatible Rhizobium leguminosarum bv. viceae strain is important for promotion of lentil crop under rice-lentil rotation in acid soil regions. In this investigation, native R. leguminosarum strains were isolated from the nodules of pea plants grown in pots using acid soil and isolated native Rhizobium strains were confirmed on CRYEMA (congo red Yeast Extract Mannitol Agar) media. Four native R. leguminosarum strains (NR1, NR2, NR3 and NR4) obtained from four acid soil types were further screened for nodulation efficiency and yield attributes of lentil crop against a reference exotic strain R. leguminosarum CK1 (ER). The results indicated that the performance of native Rhizobium strain (NR2) was the best among native isolates and performed on par with the reference strain (CK1) in acid soils of Meghalaya.