Increase of crop yields by beneficial organisms: a case study of Rhizobia use in Uganda

Abstract

Legume production in Uganda has been increasing since 1980 in terms of National total hectarage. However, yields per hectare have remained very low. This is highly attributed to the facts that the legumes are grown on soils, which are poor in nitrogen and lack effective Rhizobia strains, which could fix elemental nitrogen for the legume. Further more, most farmers cannot afford the use of nitrogenous fertilizers. Rhizobia inoculants are produced within the country and sold to farmers at affordable prices. Therefore, this farmer-participatory research aimed at assessing the use of inoculants to improve legume yields. Trials were conducted at Makerere University Agricultural Research Institute Kabanyolo (MWARIK). Namulonge Agricultural and Animal production research Institute (NAARI), Ngeta District Farm Institute and Mubende District. Inoculated seed and un-innoculated soybean seed were planted and grain yields were assessed. Results showed significant (P£0.05) yield increases at all sites and percentage increases ranged between 40% to 70%. The economic analysis indicated that cash constrained farmers can economically raise soybean crop using elite rhizobia strains.