Abstract
The use of Rhizobacteria as biofertilizer is on the increase due to the ability of some of the bacteria to solubilize some insoluble essential nutrients in the soil and produce phytohormones necessary for plant growth. The effectiveness of two plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (Bacillus cereus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa) in plant growth promotion at different concentrations of glyphosate were evaluated. Some agronomic parameters such as plant height, size of girth, number of leaves on the screen house and field were measured and recorded. The results of the effects of P. aeruginosa on the height of maize at different concentrations showed that the plants inoculated with the isolates and planted on the soil without glyphosate (control) recorded the highest height on the 2nd (34.9 cm), 4th (52.45 cm), 6th (61.17 cm) and 8th (66.25 cm) weeks after planting, when compared to those planted on the soil spiked with different concentrations of glyphosate. The effects of the isolates on the size of girth of maize on the soil spiked with different concentrations of glyphosate showed the highest girth size on the soil inoculated with P. aeruginosa eight weeks after planting (8 WAP) with a girth size of 2.0cm and least at 14.4 mg/ml of glyphosate with a girth size of 1.2 cm at 8 weeks after planting. Similar trend was observed on the soil inoculated with B. cereus (without glyphosate) with the highest girth in the 2nd and 4th WAP (1.02 and 1.42 cm, respectively). The results of our field studies showed no significant difference (P≤0.05) in the height and number of leaves of the maize at different treatments and time (weeks after planting). Similar trend was observed i n the yield of maize. This study has shown that these isolates can be useful as biofertilizers especially in the absence or at low concentration of glyphosate.
 Keywords: Rhizobacteria, maize, Inoculants, Plant-growth-promotion.
Highlights
Maize is widely grown for its grain and fodder
The results of the effects of P. aeruginosa on the height of maize at different concentrations showed that the plants inoculated with the isolates and planted on the soil without glyphosate recorded the highest height on the 2nd (34.9 cm), 4th (52.45 cm), 6th (61.17 cm) and 8th (66.25 cm) weeks after planting, when compared to those planted on the soil spiked with different concentrations of glyphosate
The effects of the isolates on the size of girth of maize on the soil spiked with different concentrations of glyphosate showed the highest girth size on the soil inoculated with P. aeruginosa eight weeks after planting
Summary
Maize is widely grown for its grain and fodder. The grains are used in various ways by humans. Different parts of maize can be used in the production of different types of food for humans and animals It is used in the production of feed for animals and for different industrial uses, while it is commonly used as source of food. The continuous spread of herbicides interferes with the plant growth promoting activities of rhizobacteria and reduces their efficiency in enhancing plant growth promotion leading to low soil fertility and poor yield of maize (Ezaka et al 2018). The utilization of plant growth promoting rhizobacteria will reduce the over dependence on chemical fertilizer and as well enhance the breakdown of glyphosate and its by products, reduce contamination of soil and plant products by glyphosate. This work is designed to assess the effects of plant growth promoting rhizobacteria inoculants on maize grown at different concentrations of glyphosate
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
