Effect of co-inoculation with different groups of beneficial microorganisms on the microbiological properties of soil and yield of maize (Zea mays L.)

Abstract

The effect of co-inoculation on the microbiological properties of rhizospheric soil and yield of maize was investigated in field conditions. The total number of microorganisms (TNM) was largest in variant where Plant Growth Promoting Bacteria (PGPB), Phosphorus Solubilizing Bacteria (PSB) and Arbuscular Mycorrhiza (AM) were applied. TNM was 418.10x107/g soil. The largest number of fungi was achieved in the variant with PGPM (29.65 x104/g soil). The joint use of PGPB, PSB and AM resulted in the largest number of phosphomineralizers (PM) (31.67x104/g soil). Dehydrogenase activity (DHA) increased only in the variant where all the microorganisms were introduced (924μg TPF/10 g soil). The co-inoculation led on average to the increased activity of acid phosphatase (ACP) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP). The highest yield of maize was achieved in the variant with PGPB (15.33 t/ha). Correlation analysis proved a high degree of interdependence between microbiological activity and maize yield.