广东大豆地方种质磷效率特性研究Ⅰ.大豆基因型磷效率特性差异及其与土壤有效磷含量的关系

在低磷红壤上,对原产广东省的大豆基因型磷效率与其来源地土壤有效磷含量的关系进行研究。结果表明：植株磷素吸收量相对值不仅可以反映大地低磷红一长适应性,而且可以反映大豆基因型磷效率特性,ＲＶＰＰＵ是较大的大豆基因型。     

广东大豆地方种质磷效率特性研究Ⅰ.大豆基因型磷效率特性差异及其与土壤有效磷含量的关系

在低磷红壤上,对原产广东省的大豆(Glycine max (L.) Merrill)基因型磷效率与其来源地土壤有效磷含量的关系进行研究.结果表明:植株磷素吸收量相对值(RVPPU)不仅可以反映大豆对低磷红壤生长适应性,而且可以反映大豆基因型磷效率特性,RVPPU是衡量田间生长适应性和磷效率特性的较好指标.RVPPU较大的大豆基因型,其对低有效磷红壤环境适应性较好,磷效率特性较佳;反之,亦然.不同大豆基因型,具有不同的磷效率特性.磷效率特性的形成与土壤有效磷含量有关.土壤中低有效磷含量与较佳的磷效率特性形成有关,长期生长在有效磷含量较低的砖红壤、赤红壤、红壤和紫色土上的大豆基因型具有较佳的磷效率特性;而长期生长在有效磷含量较高的水稻土、潮土上的大豆基因型其磷效率特性较差.大豆基因型较佳的磷效率特性是其长期在低有效磷土壤环境下进化形成的.     

磷高效转基因水稻OsPT4对红壤无机磷组成的影响

本研究以磷高效转基因水稻OsPT4为材料,以非转基因亲本日本晴(Nipp)和磷高效突变体水稻PHO2为对照,设施磷和不施磷2个处理,利用根盒试验研究磷高效转基因水稻OsPT4的种植对根际及非根际土壤无机磷组成的影响。结果表明:(1)Os PT4和PHO2的植株干重和磷含量均显著高于Nipp,而土壤全磷和无机磷总量均低于Nipp;(2)Os PT4和PHO2水稻根际和非根际土壤无机磷组分含量均表现为O-PFe-PAl-PCa-P;(3)施磷处理时,Os PT4和PHO2的根际土壤O-P、Ca-P含量显著低于Nipp,其非根际土壤Al-P、Fe-P和O-P含量也显著低于Nipp。不施磷处理时,Os PT4和PHO2的根际土壤Fe-P含量和非根际土壤Fe-P、O-P含量均显著低于Nipp,其根际土壤Ca-P含量显著高于Nipp。说明在供磷条件下,磷高效转基因水稻对A1-P、O-P和Ca-P的吸收活化能力较强,而缺磷条件下,磷高效转基因水稻可促进其根系对Fe-P的吸收利用。     

酸性磷酸酶活性与大豆耐低磷能力的相关研究

在水培条件下研究了11个南方春大豆地方品种和育成品种对低磷胁迫反应的差异及其与酸性磷酸酶活性（APA）的相关关系。结果表明，不同大豆品种的地上部干重、根干重、植株全磷和全氮积累量差异极显著（P＜0.01），表现出品种间耐低磷的差异性。大豆品种地上部干重、根干重、植株全磷和全氮量与APA的相关性均达到显著或极显著水平。APA是大豆品种磷效率的一种机制，它可作为耐低磷品种筛选的一个生化指标。     

磷石膏在红壤上的肥料效应

通过连续两年的大田和盆栽试验表明，在缺磷红壤旱地上，磷石膏对大豆，玉米，甘薯均有增产作用，效果优于等磷量磷铵，而在普遍施用过磷酸钙的红壤性稻田，磷石膏不表现增产效果，在红壤上，磷石膏肥效的主导因子是磷素，过高量施用磷石膏（１０００ｋｇ／亩）将对玉米产生不良作用。     

施磷量对玉米 -大豆间作根际红壤无机磷形态及磷吸收的影响

通过盆栽模拟试验,探讨不同施磷量对玉米 -大豆间作作物生长及磷吸收的影响,并分析根际红壤中各无机磷形态的变化。结果表明:与单作相比,玉米 -大豆间作显著提高了作物地上部生物量及磷素吸收量,并具有明显的产量优势。与常规施磷水平(P100)下的单作相比,玉米 -大豆间作条件下,磷肥减施 1/2(P50)并未降低作物籽粒产量与玉米的磷吸收量。间作种植显著降低了玉米、大豆根际红壤总无机磷含量,并且无机磷减少量主要以O-P、Fe-P和 Ca-P为主。玉米、大豆根际土壤Fe-P、Al-P、Ca-P与 O-P占土壤总无机磷含量的比例主要受磷水平的调控,而种植模式对玉米和大豆根际土壤中各无机磷形态的比例(除 Fe-P外)均没有影响。在本试验条件下,玉米 -大豆间作通过根系交互作用主要促进土壤中 Fe-P、Ca-P和 O-P的活化来增加玉米与大豆的磷吸收,并具有节约磷肥、维持作物产量和磷吸收的潜力。     

中酸性土壤无要磷形态及生物学有效性

在黄棕壤和棕红壤上施用磷肥,经三年室内温润条件下培养,用石灰性土壤无机磷分极方法测定各形态磷含量,各形态磷增量的分配比例表明,Ｆｅ－Ｐ居首位,其次为Ａｌ－Ｐ为Ｏ－Ｐ,三级Ｃａ－Ｐ之和在２０％以下,经培养的土壤种植黑麦草,其生物量和吸磷量与各形态磷量的关系除Ｃａ１０－Ｐ外,均达到极显著水准。     

镁改性生物炭配施磷肥对红壤磷有效性及小麦产量的影响

利用盆栽试验探究镁改性生物炭和磷肥配施对红壤磷素有效性及小麦产量的影响,试验设置对照(CK)、单施磷肥(P)、单施镁改性生物炭(MgBC)和磷肥配施镁改性生物炭(P+MgBC)4个处理.结果表明,单施镁改性生物炭或单施磷肥均可增加土壤有效磷(AP)含量,且两者配施其含量显著高于单施.P+MgBC处理土壤AP含量较CK、...     

中国南方红壤丘陵区大豆－柑橘间作系统植物磷的吸收特征

A field microplot experiment was conducted in the red soil hilly region of South China to evaluate plant phosphorus (P)uptake under soybean and citrus monoculture and the soybean-citrus intercropping system using the ³²P tracer technique. P fertilizer was applied at three depths (15, 35, and 55 cm). The experimental results showed that the planting pattern and ³²P application depth significantly affected the characteristics of P uptake by soybean and citrus. Under the soybean-citrus intercropping system, considerable competition was observed when the ³²P fertilizer was applied to the topsoil (15 cm); therefore, the 32P recovery rate declined by 41.5% and 14.7% for soybean and citrus, and 32P supplying amount of topsoil to soybean and citrus decreased by 346.8 and 148.1 mg plot^-1, respectively, compared to those under the monoculture. However, ³²P recovery of soybean was promoted when ³²P fertilizer was applied to the deeper soil layers (35 and 55 cm)under soybean-citrus intercropping. Under the soybean monoculture, 32P fertilizer could hardly be used by soybean when ³²P fertilizer was applied at the 55 cm depth or below, with the recovery rate being less than 0.1%; it was up to 0.253% by soybean under intercropping. The higher P recovery of soybean under soybean-citrus intercropping when P was applied in the deeper soil layers was because part of the P nutrient that the citrus absorbed from the deeper soil layers could be released into the topsoil and then it could be used by the soybean.     

坡耕地红壤生物有效性磷组分的剖面变化特征

【目的】分析不同利用方式红壤中生物有效性磷组分的剖面垂直变化特征与差异,以探明土壤磷素的根际过程。【方法】以江西鹰潭孙家典型红壤小流域观测站为依托,以位于小流域坡上、坡中及坡下花生旱地与稻田红壤为研究对象,基于土壤磷素的生物有效性分级方法,分析了坡耕地红壤发生层中可溶性磷(CaCl₂-P)、易被有机酸活化释放的磷(Citrate-P)、易被磷酸酶矿化的有机磷(Enzyme-P)、矿物结合态磷(HCl-P)及全磷、有效磷的含量变化;探讨了土壤全氮、有机质、铁铝氧化物等指标与各组分磷的相关关系。【结果】坡耕地红壤耕作层土壤全磷、有效磷均显著高于底层土壤,稻田红壤耕作层全磷和有效磷均随坡位降低而显著降低,而花生旱地的有效磷则呈相反变化、且坡中土壤全磷显著高于坡上与坡下。各生物有效磷组分含量大小依次为：HCl-P> Citrate-P> CaCl₂-P> Enzyme-P,且均随剖面深度增加而降低,但受坡位影响无明显规律性。稻田红壤剖面土壤全磷平均含量高于花生旱地,但有效磷则相反;稻田红壤耕作层中仅Enzyme-P含量显著高于花生旱...     

外生菌根真菌对土壤无机磷迁移的影响

Ectomycorrhizal(EM) fungi could form symbiosis with plant roots and participate in nutrient absorption; however, many EM species commonly found in forest soils, where phosphorus(P) concentration and availability are usually very low, particularly in tropical and subtropical areas, have not yet been investigated for their efficiencies to mobilize soil P. In this study, fungal growth, P absorption,efflux of protons and organic acids, and soil P depletion by four isolates of EM fungi isolated either from acidic or calcareous soils were compared in pure liquid culture using soil as a sole P source. Boletus sp. 7(Bo 7), Lactarius deliciosus 3(Ld 3), and Pisolithus tinctorius 715(Pt 715) from acidic and P-deficient soils of southwestern China showed higher biomass and P concentration and accumulation than Cenococcum geophilum 4(Cg 4) from a calcareous soil of Inner Mongolia, northern China, after 4 weeks of liquid culture. Oxalate, malate, succinate, acetate, and citrate concentrations in the culture solutions varied significantly with fungal species,and oxalate accounted for 51.5%–91.4% of the total organic acids. Organic acids, particularly oxalate, in the culture solutions may lead to the solubilization of iron-bound P(Fe-P), aluminum-bound P(Al-P), and occluded P(O-P) from soil phosphates. Fungal species also varied greatly in proton efflux, which decreased the culture solution pH and may dissolve calcium-bound P(Ca-P) in soil.This could be the reason for the increment of both inorganic P in the culture solutions and Olsen P in the soil when EM fungi were present. Total inorganic P, the sum of Al-P, Fe-P, O-P, and Ca-P, in the culture solutions was positively correlated with the total concentration of organic acids in the culture solutions(r = 0.918*, n = 5), but negatively with both the total inorganic P in soil(r =-0.970**, n = 5) and the culture solution pH(r =-0.830*, n = 5). These suggested variable efficiencies of EM fungal species to mobilize inorganic P fractions from soil, which could make EM trees to utilize inorganic P in the same way like EM fungi and adapt to the soils with various P concentrations and availabilities.     

基于常规土壤有效磷(Olsen法)分析的高效测试技术研究

提高常规方法土壤测试的效率是我国测土配方施肥亟待解决的技术问题。通过30个有代表性的土样研究了与现代化测试技术手段相应的土壤有效磷(Olsen-P)的分析过程的改进和提高,结果显示:700 nm波长比色测定土壤有效磷比882 nm波长测定有显著正偏差,土壤有效磷的比色测定应该用882 nm波长以消除土壤可溶有机质影响;改进的钼锑抗显色剂10 min可稳定显色,大大缩短了比色测定需要等待的时间,且测定结果与原有测定过程测定结果一致。同时改进的显色剂稳定时间长,24 h的测定结果和10 min测定结果没有差异。土壤有效磷测定显色过程采用稀释加液器和比色测定中采用泵吸式进样器,可以大大提高土壤测试效率。     

长期不同施肥对红壤性水稻土磷素及水稻磷营养的影响

【目的】合理的土壤磷素管理对作物生产和环境保护具有重要意义。南方双季稻田土壤磷素特征及磷素吸收信息相对缺乏,本文利用江西省稻田土壤质量演变定位监测试验为平台,系统分析长期不同施肥措施下土壤全磷、磷活化系数及水稻磷素吸收量的变化特征和全磷与磷盈亏的响应关系等,为指导磷肥合理施用提供重要科学依据。【方法】从1984年开始在江西省南昌市进行长期定位试验,设置8个处理,分别为不施肥对照(CK),PK、NP、NK、NPK、70%化肥氮+30%有机肥氮(70F+30M)、50%化肥氮+50%有机肥氮(50F+50M)、30%化肥氮+70%有机肥氮(30F+70M)。早稻施用纯N、P2O5和K2O量分别为150、60和150 kg/hm^2,晚稻分别为180、60和150 kg/hm^2。早、晚稻施用的氮、磷、钾化肥均分别为尿素、过磷酸钙和氯化钾,有机肥分别为紫云英(N、P2O5、K2O含量分别为0.30%、0.08%、0.23%)和腐熟猪粪(N、P2O5、K2O含量分别为0.45%、0.19%、0.60%)。除30F+70M处理,其余处理均为等氮磷钾设计。于1984-2012年每年早、晚稻收获期采集秸秆和稻谷计产,并于晚稻收获后,测定土壤全磷和有效磷含量。分析土壤全磷、磷活化系数(PAC)及早、晚稻磷素吸收量随种植年限的变化规律,研究土壤全磷含量与磷累积盈亏的响应关系。【结果】经29年连续试验,NK处理土壤全磷含量以每年4.6 mg/kg的速度下降,而含磷化肥处理土壤全磷含量升高速率为3.3~19.4 mg/(kg·a)。有机无机配施处理(70F+30M、50F+50M和30F+70M)升高速率平均为16.1 mg/(kg·a),是施NPK肥处理的4.89倍。施磷土壤全磷含量平均增至1.07 g/kg (2010-2012平均值),较初始值提高了1.18倍。不施磷肥处理土壤磷活化系数(PCA)由试验初始的4.24%下降至2.5%左右,施磷肥处理则均显著升高,其中有机无机配施处理平均升高至8.51%,平均年升高速率是施NPK处理的2.89倍。早、晚稻磷素吸收量,施磷肥(PK、NP和NPK)和化肥配施有机肥处理(70F+30M、50F+50M和30F+70M)均显著高于CK,提高幅度分别为29.9%~124%和28.6%~103%,均衡施肥(NPK、70F+30M、50F+50M和30F+70M)磷素吸收量显著高于不均衡施肥(PK和NP)处理,前者平均分别较后两者提高了38.7%和32.9%。早、晚稻产量与磷素吸收量呈极显著线性正相关关系,每吸收磷(P) 1 kg,早稻和晚稻产量分别可提高115和106 kg/hm^2。不施肥(CK)条件下,土壤全磷变化与累积磷盈亏间无显著相关关系,施NK肥处理土壤中每亏缺磷100 kg/hm^2,土壤全磷含量降低6.0 mg/kg,施化学磷肥的3个处理,土壤中每盈余磷100 kg/hm^2,平均提高9.3 mg/kg,而3个有机–无机配施处理,土壤中每盈余磷100 kg/hm^2,平均增加63.3 mg/kg,是无机磷肥的6.78倍。【结论】无论是单施化学磷肥,还是有机无机配施均有效提高土壤全磷含量及磷活化系数,且在等磷量投入条件下,有机无机配施较单施化肥的效果更优。建议减少中国南部红壤性稻田土壤的总磷输入量和提高有机肥施用比例,以改善粮食生产和保护环境。     

Determination of soil microbial biomass phosphorus in acid red soils from southern China

A CHCl₃ fumigation and 0.03 M NH₄F-0.025 M HCl extraction procedure was used to measure microbial biomass P (P_mic) in 11 acid red soils (pH <6.0) from southern China and the results compared to those obtained by the commonly-used CHCl₃ fumigation and 0.5 M NaHCO₃ extraction method. Extraction with NH₄F-HCl was found to be more effective and accurate than NaHCO₃ extraction for detecting the increase of P from microbial biomass P following chloroform fumigation due to its higher efficiency in extracting both native labile phosphate and added phosphate (³²P) in the soils. This was confirmed by the recovery of ³²P from in situ ³²P-labeled soil microbial biomass following fumigation and extraction by the NH₄F-HCl solution. Soil microbial biomass P, measured by the NH₄F-HCl extraction method, was more comparable with soil microbial biomass C (with a more narrow C:P ratio range of 4.3 to 22.3 and a mean of 15.6 in the microbial biomass), than that obtained by NaHCO₃ solution (with a mean C:P ratio of 30.7 and a wide range of 14.9 to 48.9). K_p, the fraction of soil microbial biomass P extracted after CHCl₃ fumigation, by the NH₄F-HCl solution was 0.34. The amount of microbial biomass P determined (using K_p =0.34) was 3–400% (mean 131%) higher than that obtained by the NaHCO₃ extraction (using K_p =0.40) for the 11 red soils studied. The results suggest that the CHCl₃ fumigation and NH₄F-HCl extraction method is more reliable for measuring microbial biomass P than the NaHCO₃ extraction method in acid red soils.     

Alkalinity exacerbates phosphorus deficiency in subtropical red soils: Insights from phosphate-solubilizing fungi

Red soils in subtropical regions are often low in available phosphorus (P), a vital plant nutrient. Phosphate-solubilizing microorganisms (PSMs) can release P from phosphate reservoir, making it accessible to plants. However, the complex interactions between PSMs and minerals in red soils are not yet fully understood. In this study, we investigated the effects of Aspergillus niger, a typical phosphate-solubilizing fungus (PSF), on phosphate dissolution in two representative red soils – an acidic soil and an alkaline soil. In the acidic red soil, the fungal abundance reached 3.01 × 10 ⁷ cfu g⁻¹ after a 28-day incubation period, with respiration of ~2000 mg C kg⁻¹. The secretion of oxalic acid promoted P release from inorganic phosphate (from ~1 to 187 mg kg⁻¹). Additionally, the contents of amorphous Fe/Al oxides decreased, which otherwise could have contributed to P sorption in the soil. In contrast, P availability declined in the alkaline red soil after the addition of A. niger, regardless of the P source (inorganic or organic phosphate). Meanwhile, the fungal respiration decreased to ~780 mg C kg⁻¹. Therefore, alkaline red soils with abundant carbonates are susceptible to P deficiency due to both the diminished function of PSMs and strong soil buffering. These findings have important implications for sustainable agriculture on alkaline red soils, as they suggest that the use of PSMs to improve P availability may be limited.     

长期施肥下红壤旱地磷素有效性影响因子的冗余分析

以长期施肥(1988～2014年)的红壤旱地为研究对象,以全磷(TP)、有效磷(Bray-P)为响应变量,土壤pH值、大小粒级团聚体组成比例(PSAi)、铁铝氧化物、阳离子交换量(CEC)、分形维数(D)等指标为解释变量,借助于冗余分析(RDA)方法探讨各指标变量与红壤旱地TP和Bray-P含量变化的相关关系.研究结果...     

澳大利亚东部地区一些酸性硫酸盐土壤磷的特征

Forty-five acid sulfate topsoil samples (depth < 0.5 m) from 15 soil cores were collected from 11 locations along the New South Wales coast, Australia. There was an overall trend for the concentration of the HC1-extractable P to increase along with increasing amounts of organic C and the HCl-extractable trivalent metals in the topsoils of some less-disturbed acid sulfate soils (pH < 4.5). This suggests that inorganic P in these soils probably accumulated via biological cycling and was retained by complexation with trivalent metals or their oxides and hydroxides. While there was no clear correlation between pH and the water-extractable P, the concentration of the water-extractable P tended to increase with increasing amounts of the HCl-extractable P. This disagrees with some established models which suggest that the concentration of solution P in acid soils is independent of total P and decreases with increasing acidity. The high concentration of sulfate present in acid sulfate soils appeared to affect the chemical behavior of Pin these soil systems. Comparison was made between a less disturbed wetland acid sulfate soil and a more intensively disturbed sugarcane acid sulfate soil. The results show that reclamation of wetland acid sulfate soils for sugarcane production caused a significant decrease in the HCl-extractable P in the topsoil layer as a result of the reduced bio-cycling of phosphorus following sugarcane farming. Simulation experiment shows that addition of hydrated lime had no effects on the immobilization of retained P in an acid sulfate soil sample within a pH range 3.54.6. When the pH was raised to above 4.6, soluble P in the soil extracts had a tendency to increase with increasing pH until the 15th extraction (pH 5.13). This, in combination with the poor pH-soluble P relationship observed from the less-disturbed acid sulfate soils, suggests that soluble P was not clearly pH-dependent in acid sulfate soils with pH < 4.5.     

水稻氮高效基因型根系分泌物中有机酸和氨基酸的变化特征

采用溶液培养试验,研究水稻氮高效基因型在不同供氮水平下,根系分泌物中有机酸和氨基酸种类及含量的变化情况,并探讨其与氮素利用效率之间的关系。结果表明: 1）水稻氮高效基因型氮积累量随着供氮水平的降低明显下降,而氮素利用效率显著提高; 在供氮水平为20 mg/L时,高效基因型具有较高的氮积累量,且氮素利用效率较低效基因型高42.9%（分蘖期）和21.4%（拔节期）。 2）草酸为高效基因型根系分泌的主要有机酸种类,其分泌量占有机酸总量的80%以上,其次是乙酸和柠檬酸; 有机酸分泌总量和草酸分泌量在分蘖期和拔节期随供氮水平的降低而降低,乙酸和柠檬酸分泌量在拔节期也呈相同趋势; 相同供氮水平下,高效基因型有机酸分泌总量均显著低于低效基因型,且在20 mg/L时差异明显。 3）丙氨酸为高效基因型根系分泌的主要氨基酸种类,其分泌量占氨基酸总量的50%以上,其次是丝氨酸、 谷氨酸、 天冬氨酸、 苯丙氨酸、 甘氨酸和苏氨酸,且氨基酸分泌总量和各组分氨基酸分泌量均随供氮水平的降低而降低; 在低氮水平（10 mg/L和20 mg/L）下,高效基因型氨基酸分泌总量均显著低于低效基因型。4）在分蘖期和拔节期,水稻根系分泌有机酸和氨基酸总量与氮素利用效率均呈显著或极显著负相关,有机酸分泌组分中的草酸和氨基酸分泌组分的天冬氨酸分泌量与氮素利用效率也呈显著或极显著负相关。以上结果表明,低氮条件下水稻氮高效基因型氮效率优势明显,高效基因型氮素利用效率高,有利于体内同化物质的合理分配。     

隔根与接种 FM 对红壤上玉米/大豆植株生长及氮素利用的影响

【目的】探讨接种摩西管柄囊霉 (Funneliformis mosseae,FM) 和不同隔根处理对红壤上间作植株生长、植株氮吸收量和土壤氮的影响。【方法】采用盆栽模拟试验,设不同菌根处理[不接种 (NM)、接种 (FM)]与玉米/大豆不同隔根处理 (根系不分隔、部分分隔、完全分隔)。【结果】接种 FM 的玉米、大豆根系均有一定的侵染,菌根侵染率在部分分隔处理下最低。间作根系的分隔处理对玉米和大豆的菌根依赖性产生了明显影响,大豆的菌根依赖性随间作交互作用强度的加大而增加。无论何种隔根处理,接种 FM 均显著增加了玉米植株生物量,其地上部生物量高出 NM 处理 11.7%～81.4%,根系生物量高出 NM 处理 18.8%～166.7%。根系分隔处理下,接种 FM 均显著降低了大豆生物量。同一隔根方式下,接种 FM 明显提高了玉米的植株氮吸收量和根系氮吸收效率。在不分隔处理下,接种 FM 显著增加了大豆的地上部氮吸收量,但在部分分隔和完全分隔处理下则反而有所下降;在部分分隔处理下,接种 FM 显著降低了大豆根系的氮吸收量,在不分隔和完全分隔处理下亦呈下降趋势。在部分分隔处理下,接种 FM 显著提高了大豆根系氮吸收效率,在完全分隔处理下反而有明显下降,且在 NM–不分隔处理下的大豆根系氮吸收效率最低。相关分析显示,玉米、大豆植株氮吸收量与土壤碱解氮含量呈显著负相关。【结论】接种丛枝菌根真菌 (AMF) 和隔根方式的组合能不同程度地影响玉米和大豆对氮的吸收利用及间作植株的生长,并能对土壤有效氮产生较大影响。所有的复合处理中,AMF和间作根系部分分隔处理组合对玉米和大豆生长及氮素利用的促进作用较好,并能有效降低土壤碱解氮的残留。     

Enhanced Growth and nodule occupancy of red kidney bean and soybean inoculated with soil aggregate-based inoculant

Volcanic ash soil, which is widely distributed in Japan, contains a large amount of well-structured soil aggregates. By using these aggregates as carrier materials, we prepared (brady)rhizobial inoculants for red kidney bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) and soybean (Glycine max). Autoclaved soil aggregates were inoculated with Rhizobium tropici CIATS99R or Bradyrhizobium japonicum USDA110R, incubated for 15 or 21 d at 30°C, slowly air-dried at 20°C to prepare the aggregate-based inoculants, and stored at various temperatures. The populations of CIATS99R and USDA110R in the aggregate-based inoculants were maintained during several months of storage at 20°C. When the aggregate-based inoculants were mixed with soil, CIATS99R and USDA110R cells showed a remarkably improved survival in soils compared with those mixed with soil without carrier material. The effect of the aggregate-based inoculants on the growth of red kidney bean and soybean was examined in pot experiments. By placing a small amount of the inoculant just beneath the seeds at the time of sowing, plant growth was significantly enhanced compared with the use of traditional peat-based inoculant. In addition, nodule formation on the upper part of soybean roots and nodule occupancy by the inoculated strain were remarkably enhanced by the aggregate-based inoculant. It is suggested that soil aggregates might be suitable carrier materials for preparing cheap and effective (brady)rhizobial inoculants.