Nitrogen‐fixing symbionts associated with the french bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) are absent in soils in the Varanasi, India area. Greenhouse experiments were conducted to study the effects of Fe (ferrous sulfate) and Zn (zinc sulfate) on nodulation and N2 fixation in french beans. Inorganic treatments were added to the soil. No exogenous supplement of Rhizobium was added to the soil. Iron alone at a concentration of 5 or 10 mg kg‐1 soil or in combination with the same concentrations of Zn enhanced nodulation. At 5 mg Fe and Zn kg‐1 soil, maximum nodulation and leghaemoglobin were noted. Enhanced in vivo N2 fixation was also noted when either Fe or Zn (alone or in combination) were added at concentrations of 5 or 10 mg kg‐1 soil. These experiments showed that Fe could create a condition conducive to the formation of N2‐fixing nodules in French bean. Synergistic effects of Zn in these processes could not be ruled out.