Azospirillum sp. isolated from rice roots and soils exhibited differential nitrogen fixation in response to agrochemical application in pure culture. Addition of carbofuran at 250-mu-g/flask and beyond exerted significant stimulation of nitrogen fixation in Azospirillum sp. isolated from different rice cultivars and soils. The extent of stimulation of nitrogen fixation, however, varied among the isolates. Application of combined N resulted in a decrease in the net nitrogen fixation, particularly in Azospirillum sp. isolated from rice soils. In the presence of combined N the stimulation of nitrogen fixation due to carbofuran addition is not significant in four out of six Azospirillum isolates.