Abstract
The use of plant growth promoting bacteria (PGPB) as biostimulants favors the increase of crop productivity and the improvement of yield quality. The main objective of the present study was to investigate the effect of the PGPB biostimulants (Azotobacter chroococcum, Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus megatherium and their mixes) and the application method (foliar and soil) on the growth, the physiology, the yield and the quality of maize. The obtained results showed that A. chroococcum treatment increased the chlorophyll content up to 6.1%, the photosynthetic rate up to 18.4% and the transpiration rate up to 34.3%. The highest maize yields were performed by the treatments B. megatherium (244.67 g) and the mix of A. chroococcum and B. subtilis (1:1) (243.67 g) when applied on the soil. The Soil application of the PGPB resulted in increased yield of maize from 5.5 to 13.4% compared to control treatment. Concerning quality characteristics, B. subtilis treatment increased total solids content in harvested maize seeds by 92%, as well as crude fiber content by 46% compared to control. The results confirmed that the use of PGPB could contribute as a new cultivation practice for sustainable growth, productivity and quality of grain crops.
Highlights
The use of plant growth promoting bacteria (PGPB) as biostimulants favors the increase of crop productivity and the improvement of yield quality
Strains of Azotobacter phylogenetically related with Azotobacter chroococcum, were inoculated in maize roots, under different salinity conditions and the results showed that the treatment of PGPB increased chlorophyll content at zero salinity, while shoot length and shoot dry weight was higher under the first level of s alinity[22]
It was demonstrated that the chlorophyll content was positively affected by A. chroococcum treatment and the dry weight was significantly influenced by all the PGPB treatments
Summary
The use of plant growth promoting bacteria (PGPB) as biostimulants favors the increase of crop productivity and the improvement of yield quality. The main objective of the present study was to investigate the effect of the PGPB biostimulants (Azotobacter chroococcum, Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus megatherium and their mixes) and the application method (foliar and soil) on the growth, the physiology, the yield and the quality of maize. The Soil application of the PGPB resulted in increased yield of maize from 5.5 to 13.4% compared to control treatment. Spraying with nitrogen fixing bacteria in winter wheat cultivation improved the growth of plants and increased yield by 70% compared to the control, a result similar to the use of chemical fertilizers[15]. In a recent field study, strains of Azotobacter chroococcum and Azospirillum lipoferum, when combined together in a foliar application, increased plant height, branch number, seed yield and oil yield in canola[8]
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