Bradyrhizobium

japonicum Bradyrhizobium japonicum is a species of soil-dwelling bacteria that plays an important role in global nitrogen cycling. It forms nitrogen-fixing root nodules on certain legumes, such as soybeans, alfalfa, and clovers, allowing the plants to take up nitrogen from the environment, even in nitrogen-limiting environments. B. japonicum also provides a safe and sustainable alternative to chemical fertilizers as a nitrogen source for legumes. In addition, its specific capacity for nodule formation on soybeans makes it an essential species for soybean production, and it has been used in commercial inoculants since the 1980s.