Organic maize growth and development inoculated with Azospirillum brasilense

Abstract

The nitrogen biological fixation process (FBN) performed by diazotrophic bacteria, which are
also growth promoters, is an alternative for the supply of nitrogen to maize in the organic system.
The objective was to evaluate the growth, development and chlorophyll content of organic
maize, inoculated with Azospirillum brasilense, under different sources of fertilization. The experiment
was conducted at UFSCar / CCA - Araras / SP, in the outbreak of 2015, with a randomized
complete blocks in factorial scheme 2 (with and without inoculation of A. brasilense)
x 2 (organic compound and mineral fertilizer) + 1 (control), with 4 repetitions. The evaluations
were: height, diameter, specific leaf area, leaf area index and Falker chlorophyll index. The
treatments presented different responses along the maize development, with emphasis on
mineral fertilization. The inoculation with A. brasilense positively interfered with the chlorophyll
index in the maize vegetative phase. In general, A. brasilense did not influence maize growth
and development, for most variables evaluated.