Consortium of multifunctional microorganisms in soybean culture

Abstract

The use of multifunctional microorganisms (MM) directly benefits the growth and development of plants due to the production of phytohormones and siderophores, supply of nutrients, and assimilation of atmospheric nitrogen (N2), as well as, indirectly, by protecting plants against pathogens. In this way, the search for sustainable agricultural systems is of great importance in searching for cultivation technologies that provide productive increments and minimize production costs and negative environmental impacts. The study aimed to determine the effect of multifunctional microorganisms on gas exchange, grain yield, and production components in soybean plants. In the field experiment, 2019/2020 harvest, a randomized block design was used, with 32 replications. Soybean plants were treated with a consortium of microorganisms Serratia marcensens (BRM 32114) + Bacillus sp. (BRM63573), and, as a control, soybean plants were treated without intercropping. Soybean plants treated with microorganisms showed an increase in photosynthetic rate (16.65%), stomatal conductance (37.50%), the internal concentration of CO2 (10.36%), a mass of 100 grains (4.04%), and yield of grains (14.83%) about untreated plants. Therefore, using a consortium of multifunctional microorganisms, combining multiple functionalities from different microorganisms, shows the potential to increase the agronomic performance of soybean plants. Co-inoculation technology appears as a strategic component of achieving sustainable agriculture.