The effect of inoculation with Azotobacter chroococcum on microorganisms in rhizosphere and sugar beet yield in organic farming

Abstract

The effect on sugar beet yield parameters and microbiological soil status was studied using two techniques of sugar beet inoculation with strains of Azotobacter chroococcum. Cultivar ?Drena? was used in the study, and field trial was set under the conditions of organic farming system in Backi Petrovac. A mixture of three strains of Azotobacter chroococcum was used as microbial fertilizer. Inoculation was performed by: (A) incorporation of strains into soil before sowing; and (B) repeated incorporation of strains into soil two weeks after sowing. PGP characterization of the strains confirmed the ability of producing indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) from 12.63 ?g ml-1 to 14.95 ?g ml-1, nitrogen fixation, and P-solubilization. Positive effects on the number of azotobacter and free nitrogen fixers in rhizosphere were obtained by inoculation, as well as positive effects on the tested sugar beet yield parameters. The largest increase in root yield, yield of crystal sugar, and yield of polarised sugar compared with the control was obtained by repeated soil inoculation, ranging from 22 to 23%.