Inoculation of <i>Rhizobiums sp</i> Strains to Improve Soil Fertility: A Peanut Trial in Covè and Ouessè (Benin)

Abstract

Thought the increasing demand Arachis hypogaea L. (groundnut), its yields remain low with increasingly using chemical fertilizers. To reduce the costs for chemical fertilizers inquisition and their long-term toxic effects on soils, microbial bio-fertilizers could be an accessible alternative to peanut farms. Thus, the aim of this study was to assess the performance of rhizobia strains on peanut varieties production. The experiments were conducted in two agro-ecological zones of Benin, in a peasant environment peasant-researcher control or under peasant and researcher control. The experimental device used was a complete random block with nine repetitions and two factors namely inoculation (with Rhizobium sp and without Rhizobium sp) and mineral fertilizer (with N 15 P 15 K 15 and without N 15 P 15 K 15 ). The effects of these factors divided into four treatments were evaluated on the plants vegetative, symbiotic and production parameters. In addition, an evaluation of each treatments’ comparative advantages was carried out. The results showed that the association Rhizobium sp and N 15 P 15 K 15 induced groundnut plants best vegetative and productive parameters. The best comparative advantages in economic terms were also recorded with the same combination ( Rhizobium sp + N15P15K15). Considering the technical performance, the recorded treatments effects can be classified as follows: Control < Rhizobium sp < N 15 P 15 K 15 < Rhizobium sp + N 15 P 15 K 15 . Thus, the association Rhizobium sp + N 15 P 15 K 15 induced both the best plants vegetative and productive parameters and the best comparative advantage from an economic point of view. The results also showed that the plants’ response to inoculation, the application of manure and their combination was more marked in the bar soil zone (Covè) than in the cotton zone (Ouessè). Considering the negative effects linked to the use of chemical fertilizers, the use of Rhizobium sp could be an interesting path to increase the groundnut production.