The Use of Two Locally Sourced Bio-Inocula to Improve Nitrogen and Phosphorus Cycling in Soils and Increase Macro and Micronutrient Nutrient Concentration in Edamame (Glycine max. L.) and Pumpkin (Cucurbita maxima)

Abstract

Soil macro- and micronutrient nutrient availability and their uptake by plants are critically reliant upon an active presence of the soil microbiome. This study investigated the effect of two locally sourced bio-inocula, local effective microorganisms (LEMs) and false-local effective microorganisms (F-LEMs), on plant available nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P), and the uptake of calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), potassium (K), and zinc (Zn) content in edamame (Glycine max. L.) and pumpkin (Cucurbita maxima) grown in a randomized complete block design with four reps, summer 2017 and 2018, respectively. LEM plots showed greater plant-available N during the first week (edamame season) and fourth week (pumpkin season) after treatment applications. During the pumpkin season, post-treatment plant-available P was greater in both summers in LEM plots. Edamame bean had 19%, 3%, 5%, and 16% greater Ca, Mg, K, and Zn content in LEM plots compared to the Control, respectively. The concentration of K in pumpkin pulp at harvest was 31% higher in LEMs than in F-LEMs, while Mg concentration was 42% higher. Pumpkin pulp and seeds also had 27% and 34% greater Ca and Zn concentrations compared to the Control. Our study suggests that LEMs were effective in solubilizing macro- and micronutrients, which led to increased plant uptake.