Abstract
ABSTRACT Inoculating crops with diazotrophic bacteria constitutes a feasible biotechnological tool to reduce or even avoid the use of nitrogen fertilizers and to improve the nutritional status of crops. However, the potential use of such technology is limited due to the lack of studies in diverse vegetable crops. We evaluated the production of chicory (Cichorium intybus) in response to inoculation with diazotrophic bacteria in two soil classes. The experiments were performed under greenhouse conditions and under a completely randomized design. The treatments were constituted by strains UFRB FA34C2-2, UFLA 03-84 and INPA 0311B, and two control treatments (devoid of bacterial inoculation and with and without nitrogen fertilization). Two experiments were carried out, one using a soil classified as a dystrophic yellow Latosol (Oxisoil) and one using a Quartsandy Neosol (Typic Quartzipsamment). Chlorophylls a, b and total; plant height; number of leaves; dry mass of the aerial portion; dry mass of roots; total dry mass; effectiveness; efficiency in addition to N and P gathering in the aerial portion, were evaluated 60 days after seeding. The inoculation with diazotrophic bacteria resulted in adequate production when compared to the control treatment without nitrogen fertilization and without inoculation. Diazotrophic bacteria showed potential supplying nitrogen to chicory plants and spare the use of nitrogen fertilization in both soil classes. The strain INPA 0311B, recommended for cowpea, promoted vegetal growth and increased the dry weight of the aerial portion in chicory, under both dystrophic yellow Latosol (Oxisoil) and Neossolo Quartzarênico (Typic Quartzipsamment), when cultivated under greenhouse conditions.
Highlights
A inoculação de bactérias diazotróficas representa grande potencial biotecnológico por reduzir ou dispensar o uso de fertilizantes químicos nitrogenados e por melhorar as condições nutricionais da planta
Plants were collected 60 days after seeding and the following variables were evaluated: chlorophyll a (CLA), chlorophyll b (CLB), determined with an electronic chlorophyll meter Falker®, the resulting dimensionless unit expressed as Index of Chlorophyll Falker (ICF) and the number of leaves (NL)
Plants were segmented in aerial portion and roots, conditioned in paper bags and set in a forced air oven at 60°C, until attaining a constant weight in order to determine the dry mass, and to evaluate: dry mass of the aerial portion (DMAP), dry mass of roots (DMR), total dry mass (TDM), effectiveness of inoculation compared to the absolute control (EFSN) and efficiency of inoculation compared to fertilization with mineral N (EFCN)
Summary
A inoculação de bactérias diazotróficas representa grande potencial biotecnológico por reduzir ou dispensar o uso de fertilizantes químicos nitrogenados e por melhorar as condições nutricionais da planta. In addition to crop yield increment and food nutritional quality, modern society demands the consumption of products originated from a sustainable agriculture Under such context, in leguminous crops such as soya (Glicine max) (Costa et al, 2014) and cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) (Ferreira et al, 2013; Costa et al, 2016), biological nitrogen fixation (BNF) mediated by selected symbiotic diazotrophic bacteria may substitute nitrogen fertilization, once it is considered an efficient nitrogen nutrition process in these crops. Studies have shown responsiveness of vegetal species which do not have authorized inoculants by the Ministry of Agriculture Livestock and Supply (MAPA), when inoculated with growth promoting diazotrophic bacteria (Mangmang et al, 2015; Lima et al, 2017; Braulio et al, 2019). The present work had the objective to evaluate the production of chicory in response to inoculation with diazotrophic bacteria
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