Journal of Food, Agriculture and Environment

Foliar application of plant growth-promoting bacteria and humic acid increase maize yields

Author(s):

Luciano P. Canellas ¹, Silézio F. da Silva ¹, Dan C. Olk ², Fabio L. Olivares ^{1 *}

Recieved Date: 2014-10-20, Accepted Date: 2014-12-30

Abstract:

Fertilizer costs are major components of maize production, yet fertilizer application rates are rarely constrained to reflect their overuse or permanent loss. Plant growth promoting bacteria (PGPB) reduce fertilizer inputs and seed inoculation is the main method of PGPB application but competition with rhizosphere microorganisms reduces their effectiveness. Proper inoculant formulation and the development of delivery methods for nonnodulating plants are key issues for the future success of this technology. Here, we evaluate the agronomical potential of a new biofertilizer model carrying out five field experiments in low fertility soil using a foliar spray application of Herbaspirillum seropedicae and humic acids based on different urea-N concentrations (assay 1 and 2); evaluation the application time (assay 3); and crop maize for silage production (assay 4 and 5). The use of PGPB and humic acids significantly increased maize grain production at all urea-N rates (dry season) and less than 75 kg N-urea ha^-1 (rain season). The grain production was related with application time and the inoculant increased shoot/dry root biomass in maize for silage production. PGPB used together with humic acids applied as foliar spray had agronomical value, offering an alternative method for wider agricultural use of bioinoculants.

Keywords:

Zea mays L., beneficial bacteria, humic acid, biofertilizer, N-use efficiency, biological inputs

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Journal: Journal of Food, Agriculture and Environment
Year: 2015
Volume: 13
Issue: 1
Category: Environment
Pages: 131-138

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