The common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) has the capacity to benefit from biological nitrogen fixation (FBN). However the success of this process is influenced by several factors. The aim of this study was to scale the magnitude of the contribution of molybdenum (sources and doses) and rhizobia (native and introduced) for nodulation, nitrogen accumulation and growth of IPR 139 bean. The experiment was conducted in 2011 in a greenhouse in a completely randomized factorial 2 x 5 x 2, corresponding respectively to the application in seeds from two sources (sodium molybdate and ammonium molybdate) and five doses of Mo (0, 1, 2, 3 and 4 g kg-1 seed) in the presence and absence of rhizobia inoculation (Rhizobium tropici SEMIA 4088). The variables analysed were: dry mass of shoot, root and total (shoot + root), dry nodules and average unit nodule, the total number of nodules and total nitrogen in aerial parts. The results indicate ammonium molybdate as the best source for raising the mass formed by indigenous rhizobia nodules, at doses between 2 and 3 g kg-1 seed. Inoculation of R. tropici SEMIA 4088 was not efficient to increase plant growth, nor nodulation and nitrogen fixation.
biological nitrogen fixation; Phaseolus vulgaris; Rhizobium tropici IPR 139
