Journal of Food, Agriculture and Environment

Contribution of beneficial rhizosphere micro-organisms to growth and nitrogen uptake of lettuce plants under field conditions

Author(s):

Domenica Scuderi, Francesco Giuffrida ^*, Carla Cassaniti, Ester Caturano, Cherubino Leonardi

Recieved Date: 2011-01-18, Accepted Date: 2011-03-22

Abstract:

Improvement of crop yield with the use of beneficial rhizosphere micro-organisms could be considered a promising strategy to reduce the input. Several mechanisms have been proposed to better explain plant growth stimulation, but the information is often contradictory in relation to the influence of a wide range of biological and agronomic factors. A research was carried out to provide more knowledge for the use of these micro- organisms, through the evaluation of their influence on lettuce growth and nitrogen uptake in relation to different nitrogen supply. Lettuce plants (Lactuca sativa L. var. longifolia Lam., ‘Passpartout’ F₁) were grown on sandy soil during a spring-summer cycle. Four micro-organism treatments (Alcaligenes piechaudii, Azospirillum brasiliense, Pseudomonas mendocina, Glomus intraradices) and an untreated control were combined with two nitrogen levels (33 and 110 kg ha^-1). The results showed a positive effect of micro-organism inoculation on lettuce response which was in some cases dependent by nitrogen applied. At the end of cycle (56 days after transplanting), all the studied micro-organisms caused an increase in yield level and total dry biomass (about +40% compared to the control). In the lowest N availability, all micro-organisms determined a similar (A. brasiliense) or a significantly greater dry matter production than the untreated plants grown at high N supply (+23% for A. piechaudii and P. mendocina and +28% for G. intraradices). The most evident effect of micro-organism inoculation was an increase of root length, especially in sub-optimal nitrogen conditions, that consequently had a positive influence on mineral absorption. The results evidence the utility of these micro-organisms to improve the sustainability of agro system by reducing the supply of fertilizers.

Keywords:

Micro-organisms, rhizosphere, Alcaligenes piechaudii, Azospirillum brasiliense, Pseudomonas mendocina, Glomus intraradices, yield, production, root length, nutrient uptake, nitrogen fertilization

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Journal: Journal of Food, Agriculture and Environment
Year: 2011
Volume: 9
Issue: 2
Category: Environment
Pages: 689-692

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