Effects of Rhizobium tropici inoculation and swine wastewater compost on common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) growth and yield

The integration of biological nitrogen fixation with organic nutrient sources represents a promising strategy to improve the sustainability of common bean production. This greenhouse study evaluated the combined effects of R. tropici inoculation and swine wastewater compost (SWC) application on vegetative growth, root system development, yield components, and grain protein content of common bean ( P. vulgaris L.) grown under greenhouse conditions in sterilized soil. Plants were subjected to increasing SWC rates, with and without rhizobial inoculation. The interaction between inoculation and SWC significantly influenced most evaluated variables. Most growth, chlorophyll, and yield-related variables in inoculated plants exhibited quadratic responses to SWC rates, with intermediate applications promoting greater stem diameter, biomass accumulation, root system development, chlorophyll indices, grain yield, and grain protein content, indicating that the combined management strategy improved both productivity and grain nutritional quality. However, excessive SWC application reduced chlorophyll indices, highlighting the importance of optimizing SWC application rates. Overall, the results suggest that the integration of R. tropici inoculation with moderate SWC rates was associated with coordinated improvements in growth, chlorophyll indices, and yield of common bean under the greenhouse conditions evaluated in this study. These findings suggest that this approach represents a potential strategy for reducing dependence on mineral nitrogen fertilization while supporting the efficient reuse of organic residues in legume-based cropping systems.