USE OF RHIZOBIUMBACTERIA TO INCREASE THE PRODUCTION OF FIVE TROPICAL LEGUMES WITH FORAGE POTENTIAL

The objective of the work was to evaluate the effect of the application of Rhizobium bacteria in the biomass production of forage legumes. Rhizobiumstrains were isolated and selected from the rhizosphere of five forage species. Characterization and subsequent cultivation were carried out to inoculate plants in a greenhouse. Subsequently, the biofertilizer was prepared to apply it to five forage legumes: C. ternatea, L. leucocephala, C. macrocarpum, M. pruriens and C. cajan. Plants were germinated in petri dishes and on substrate, after 10 days of germination, they were transplanted into Leonards Jugs and watered with distilled water. The plants were placed in a completely randomized design with three replicates. The evaluations were carried out every week measuring plant heightand at the end of the experiment root weigh, dry matter of aerial part and radicular volume. The best values obtained were in M. pruriens which showed from 49 to 50 cm of plant height. For cross inoculation in weight variable was observed that the strains from C. ternatea and L. leucocephala showed the best results with 0.22 and 0.25 g/plant respectively. Although the best data of dry matter of aerial part was observed in L. leucocephalawith 0.40 g, better response of Radicular volume and plant height was observed in strains that came from C. ternatea with 2 mL and 7 cm respectively. In this study it can be conclude that the use of biofertilizers can be an alternative for low-cost forage production, as long as it contains Rhizobium strains capable of associating with legumes and fixing atmospheric nitrogen.