Relationship between soybean varieties, rhizobia inoculation and SPAD-502 chlorophyll meter readings in western Siberia.

Due to climate change and an increasing demand for food and fodder, the production of soybeans (Glycine max) in Russia as well as in Western Siberia increases. Within the framework of the interdisciplinary German-Russian project SASCHA a field trial was installed in Kuchak, Western Siberia (Russian Federation) in 2013 to investigate the relationship between soybean varieties, rhizobia inoculation and SPAD-502 chlorophyll meter readings. Within two German and one Siberian variety SPAD values were measured as well as numbers of nodules counted. The plants were grown in two variants (with and without inoculation) in a completely randomized block design with four replications. Only the inoculated varieties developed nodules. The German varieties showed significant higher SPAD meter readings at the latest measurement during mid of seed development. Due to low soil temperatures differences may not have occurred earlier.