Abstract
Several studies addressing the inoculation of cereals with diazotrophic microorganisms can be found in the literature. However, in many experiments, investigators have overlooked the feasibility of applying these microorganisms to the furrow together with the seed, and the effect of bacterial concentration on phytostimulation. The aim of this work was to evaluate the effect of doses of an inoculant based on Azospirillum brasilense, applied to the seed furrow when planting maize, combined with different doses of nitrogen fertiliser. The experiment was carried out in the field, in soil of the cerrado region of Brazil. An experimental design of randomised blocks in bands was adopted, comprising nitrogen (40, 100, 200 and 300 kg ha-1) and doses of an A. brasilense-based liquid inoculant applied to the seed furrow (0, 100, 200, 300 and 400 mL ha-1). The dose of 200 mL ha-1Azospirillum was noteworthy for grain production. This is the first report of the effective application of Azospirillum in the seed furrow when planting maize in the cerrado region of Brazil.
Highlights
The genus Azospirillum includes bacteria which are demonstrably capable of promoting plant growth
A randomised block design (RBD) in bands was used in the experiment, comprising doses of nitrogen (40, 100, 200 and 300 kg ha-1) and doses of a liquid inoculant based on A. brasilense applied to the seed
At the levels of nitrogen being studied, mean values ranged from 225.69 to 399.31 broken plants ha-1 and between 7.87% and 9.38% for rot grains. These results suggest that the supply of nitrogen, either mineral nitrogen or from diazotrophic microorganisms, does not result in better stalk quality in the maize plants, unlike reports in the literature on potassium (DU et al, 2007)
Summary
The genus Azospirillum includes bacteria which are demonstrably capable of promoting plant growth. In some countries, including Brazil, inoculation has been considered as an environmentally friendly alternative for reducing the use of synthetic nitrogen fertilisers, but without compromising crop yields (HAGH et al, 2010; HUNGRIA et al, 2010). Adoption of this practice in Brazilian agricultural systems is still in its infancy, due to the type of application technology and the inconsistency of research results, which can vary depending on various biotic and abiotic factors
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