Beneficial Microorganisms Affect Soil Microbiological Activity and Corn Yield under Deficit Irrigation

Josinaldo Lopes Araujo (), Jackson de Mesquita Alves, Railene Hérica Carlos Rocha, José Zilton Lopes Santos, Rodolfo dos Santos Barbosa, Francisco Marcelo Nascimento da Costa, Geovani Soares de Lima, Leandro Nunes de Freitas, Adriana Silva Lima, Antonio Elizeneudo Peixoto Nogueira, André Alisson Rodrigues da Silva, Leônidas Canuto dos Santos, Francisco Bezerra Neto and Francisco Vaniés da Silva Sá
Additional contact information
Josinaldo Lopes Araujo: Department of Agricultural Sciences, Federal University of Campina Grande, Pombal 58840-000, PB, Brazil
Jackson de Mesquita Alves: Department of Soil Science, Federal University of Viçosa, Viçosa 36570-900, MG, Brazil
Railene Hérica Carlos Rocha: Department of Agricultural Sciences, Federal University of Campina Grande, Pombal 58840-000, PB, Brazil
José Zilton Lopes Santos: Faculty of Agricultural Science, University of Amazonas, Manaus 69067-005, AM, Brazil
Rodolfo dos Santos Barbosa: Department of Agricultural Sciences, Federal University of Campina Grande, Pombal 58840-000, PB, Brazil
Francisco Marcelo Nascimento da Costa: Department of Agricultural Sciences, Federal University of Campina Grande, Pombal 58840-000, PB, Brazil
Geovani Soares de Lima: Department of Agricultural Sciences, Federal University of Campina Grande, Pombal 58840-000, PB, Brazil
Leandro Nunes de Freitas: Department of Agricultural Sciences, Federal University of Campina Grande, Pombal 58840-000, PB, Brazil
Adriana Silva Lima: Department of Agricultural Sciences, Federal University of Campina Grande, Pombal 58840-000, PB, Brazil
Antonio Elizeneudo Peixoto Nogueira: Department of Agricultural Sciences, Federal University of Campina Grande, Pombal 58840-000, PB, Brazil
André Alisson Rodrigues da Silva: Department of Agricultural Sciences, Federal University of Campina Grande, Pombal 58840-000, PB, Brazil
Leônidas Canuto dos Santos: Department of Soil Science, Federal University of Lavras, Lavras 37200-900, MG, Brazil
Francisco Bezerra Neto: Agricultural Sciences Center, Federal Rural University of Semi-Arid, Mossoró 59625-900, RN, Brazil
Francisco Vaniés da Silva Sá: Agricultural Sciences Center, State University of Paraíba, Catolé do Rocha 58884-000, PB, Brazil

Agriculture, 2023, vol. 13, issue 6, 1-19

Abstract: Water scarcity is one of the main factors that decrease the growth and productivity of corn, since it negatively affects gas exchange and the general metabolism of the crop. The use of beneficial microorganisms (BM) has been considered a potential attenuator of water stress. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of BM and water deficit on growth, gas exchange, grain yield, and soil microbial activity. A field experiment was carried out, in which the treatments were composed of a 2 × 4 factorial scheme, corresponding to two irrigation levels (100% of ETc and 50% of ETc) and to four treatments (T) referring to the soil inoculation with BM (C: control; T1: Bacillus amyloliquefaciens + Azospirillum brasiliense ; T2: B. subtilis ; and T3: A. brasiliense ). The evaluations were carried out in the flowering phase (plant growth, gas exchange, and foliar nitrogen content) and at the end of the plant cycle (grains yield, mineral nitrogen, and microbiological activity). The 50% reduction in irrigation depth severely restricted corn growth and gas exchange and decreased the grain yield by 38%. The water deficit increased the protein content in the grains and the concentration of mineral nitrogen in the soil when the plants were inoculated with BM. Under water stress, inoculation with BM increased corn productivity by 35% and increased soil microbial activity. The inoculation of plants with BM, either in combination ( Bacillus amyloliquefaciens + A. brasiliense ) or alone ( B. subtilis ), attenuated the adverse effects of water deficit in maize.

Keywords: plant growth-promoting bacteria; water stress; Zea mays; photosynthesis; water stress attenuators (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q1 Q10 Q11 Q12 Q13 Q14 Q15 Q16 Q17 Q18 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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