Soybean root system and nodulation

Plant roots are important for performing various functions related to the soil system and crop development. When we talk about soybeans, an important aspect must be considered regarding root development: nodulation and the consequent Biological Nitrogen Fixation (BNF).

The well-developed root system demonstrates the effect on soil decompression, a process that is extremely important for soybeans, as it promotes root growth in volume and depth, and increases the absorption of water and nutrients. The more roots, the greater the plant's access to the nutritional component, due to the increase in the exploration environment, and the more release of root exudates for connection with soil microbiology.

Bacteria of the genus Bradyrhizobium are inoculated and associate symbiotically with the roots of soybean plants, forming nodules. This is an interaction mediated by compounds released at the beginning of the soybean germination process, and later carried out by the roots, which are colonized by bacteria and, through an enzymatic complex, are capable of transforming atmospheric nitrogen into a form that can be assimilated by plants.

This association provides Brazilian agriculture with savings on nitrogen fertilizers, which can also have negative effects on the environment. Therefore, the association with nitrogen-fixing bacteria and roots is a fundamental technology for soybean production in the country.

The formation of nodules for FBN benefits when the environment is biologically balanced due to the activation of soil biodiversity, in the absence of compaction, resulting in good aeration and providing water infiltration; and has a vegetation cover that, among its various functions, maintains an adequate temperature for the soil surface. In addition to these factors, a well-developed root system is certainly essential for the multiplication and maintenance of inoculated bacteria, and consequently for nodulation and biological nitrogen fixation.

Dorotéia Alves Ferreira, PhD in Soils and Plant Nutrition and Product Manager at Fertiláqua