Response of Soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.) to Vermicompost Fertilization and Foliar Application of Methylobacterium symbioticum

In the cultivation of leguminous plants, various fertilizers and microbiological preparations are used to increase nutrient availability or stimulate plant development. A pot experiment was conducted to examine the response of soybean to vermicompost fertilization and foliar application of Methylobacterium symbioticum. The experiment was conducted in a completely randomized design with four replicates. Vermicompost fertilization was found to increase the SPAD (Soil Plant Analysis Development) value and improve selected physiological parameters of the plants (Fv/Fm, Fv/F0, PI, RC/ABS) compared to the control. The most optimal results were obtained for vermicompost from sewage sludge, regardless of Methylobacterium symbioticum application. Fertilization with this variant significantly increased seed weight per plant and seed protein content compared to the control. Therefore, vermicompost fertilization, particularly with sewage sludge, can be beneficial in soybean cultivation, as it reduces the need for chemical fertilizers. However, foliar application of Methylobacterium symbioticum generally did not modify the tested parameters.