Abstract
ABSTRACT Sugarcane cultivation areas are usually characterized by low soil fertility and high nutrient demand, especially for nitrogen. Technologies that can raise crop yield and lower the use of pesticides and fertilizers are among the main needs of this crop. The objective of this study was to evaluate the agronomic performance of sugarcane after in-furrow application of the diazotrophic bacterium Nitrospirillum amazonense (BR11145). The treatments consisted of applying five doses of N. amazonense-based product to the planting furrow, 0.25, 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, and 2.0 L commercial product (c.p.) ha-1; a treatment consisting of the combination of Bacillus subtilis and Bacillus licheniformis; one control without fertilization; and one control with fertilization. Based on the results obtained from the pooled analysis of two field experiments, the N. amazonense-based product improved the growth parameters of sugarcane plants, and at doses of 1.0 and 1.5 L c.p. ha-1, these benefits resulted in a significant increase in yield and in the amount of sugar per hectare. Inoculation with diazotrophic bacteria can benefit sugarcane, especially because it promotes the growth and yield of the crop similarly to fertilizers.
Highlights
In Brazil, sugarcane has high socioeconomic importance, especially due to its ability to be cultivated in all regions of the country
Macronutrients are the elements required in the greatest amounts by plants, including nitrogen, which is essential for plant metabolism because it directly participates in the synthesis of proteins and chlorophylls (ANDRADE et al, 2003)
The present study aimed to evaluate the growth, development, and yield of sugarcane after in-furrow application of the diazotrophic bacterium N. amazonense (BR11145)
Summary
In Brazil, sugarcane has high socioeconomic importance, especially due to its ability to be cultivated in all regions of the country. For the 2019/2020 harvest, the expected average yield of Brazilian sugarcane fields is 74.21 t ha-1 (CONAB, 2019). The factors that influence these yield variations include soil and climatic conditions of its cultivation and management practices. When correlating the soil factor, especially the soil fertility level, with management practices, the need to improve the nutrient supply to sugarcane to obtain higher yields has been shown. In this sense, macronutrients are the elements required in the greatest amounts by plants, including nitrogen, which is essential for plant metabolism because it directly participates in the synthesis of proteins and chlorophylls (ANDRADE et al, 2003). The nutritional requirement for nitrogen is high, and under deficient conditions, plants may show reductions in yield and longevity, leading to a decrease in the number of sugarcane cuts (VITTI et al, 2007)
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