Paper Details

Response of winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) to inoculation with Azospirillum under different nitrogen levels

Hossein Soleimanzadeh, Tooraj Mir-Mahmoodi

DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.12692/ijb/5.12.505-511

Int. J. Biosci. 5(12), 505-511. December, 2014. (PDF)

Abstract:

In order to evaluate the effects of inoculants and chemical fertilizer on yield and yield components, a bread wheat cultivar treated with Azospirillum and nitrogen chemical fertilizer by using factorial on the basis of randomized complete block design with  three replications in Research Farm of College of Agriculture, Islamic Azad University, Pars Abad Moghan Branch during 2010 growing season. Four nitrogen fertilizer levels of 25%, 50% 75% and 100% N recommended with two levels of Azospirillum: with and without Azospirillum (control) were assigned in a factorial combination. Results showed that plant height, ear length, grain number per ear, 1000-grain weight, grain yield and biological yield were significantly higher in inoculated plants than in non-inoculated plants. These traits increased with increasing N level above 75% N recommended in non-inoculated plants, whereas no significant difference was observed between 75% and 100% N recommended. The positive effect of Azospirillum inoculation decreased with increasing N levels. According to the results of this experiment, application of Azospirillum in present of 50% N recommended had an appropriate performance and could increase grain yield to an acceptable level, so it could be considered as a suitable substitute for chemical nitrogen fertilizer in organic agricultural systems.