Abstract
Three native Rhizobium strains were isolated from Musandam. Buraimi and the Agricultural Experiment Station at Sultan Qaboos University in the Sultanate of Oman. An internationally known Rhizobium strain (TAI. 1373} was obtained from the Nitrogen Fixation for Tropical Agriculture I.egume Collection at the University of Hawaii. U.S.A-. for comparison. The different abilities of the strains to nodulate Medicago sativa I. were investigated. Different plant parameters namely, the fresh and dry weights of the shoot (g/plant ). the number of nodules per plant and the nitrogenase activity (u mole C2H2/sample/3hours) were measured. The results showed that the native Rhizobia were capable of nodulating M saliva. But inoculation with effective known strains such as TAL1373 enhanced nodulation.