Alleviation of noxious effects of cattle ranch composts on wheat seed germination by inoculation with Azospirillum spp.

Abstract

Two commonly-used composts from dairy cow manure that are used to improve poor structure and fertility of desert soils have inhibitory effects on wheat seed germination, probably as a result of their high levels of humic acids. Inoculation of wheat seeds with two species of the plant growth-promoting bacteria Azospirillum brasilense Cd and A. lipoferum JA4 (separately) prior to sowing in these amended soils improved germination, similar to the natural level of germination of seeds in desert soil without compost amendment. Both compost amendments increased height of wheat seedlings in the range of 20–25%, increased shoot dry weight by 15–19%, but severely decreased (51–54% less) root dry weight. Inoculation of wheat seeds with A. brasilense Cd, but not with A. lipoferum JA4, significantly increased plant growth parameters (height, shoot and root dry weight) over control plants grown in soil-compost mixtures. This bacterial species could survive for a period of 20 days in compost humic acid solution, could increase its population when the humic acids served as the sole carbon source, and may change the composition of humic acids in which it grows. We suggest that inoculation with A. brasilense may alleviate noxious effects on germinating seeds caused by compost application by possibly transforming the composition of humic acids in the compost.