Wheat (Triticum aestivum) yield response to different inoculation techniques of Azospirillum brasilense

Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficiency of inoculation techniques (seed treatment, in-furrow application and foliar spray) with Azospirillum brasilense on the agronomic performance and yield response of wheat. At the point of harvest, the number of seeds per ear, the thousand-seed mass, the hectoliter weight, the shoot dry matter, the N, P and K content of shoot dry matter, the grain N content, and the grain yield were evaluated. Regardless of the inoculation technique, at half the dose of N fertilizer combined with A. brasilense in liquid formulation, provided significantly superior results in agronomic performance compared to the treatment in which only the half the dose of N fertilizer was used. However, it is inferred that seed inoculation with A. brasilense associated with full nitrogen fertilization showed the highest increase in wheat development and grain yield.