Effects of bacteria and nitrogen fertilizer on promoting maize (Zea mays L.) growth, yield and chemical constituents

Abstract

A field experiment was carried out during two successive summer seasons (2016/ 2017- 2017/2018), at the College of Agricultural Studies, Sudan University of Sciences and Technology, to assess the effect of bacterial strains, nitrogen and their combinations on the performances of two maize genotypes Hudibi2 (C1) and ZML309 (C2). The form of two types of bacterial strains Bacillus megatherium var. phosphorous + Azotobacter spp + Azospirillium spp (B1) and Bacillus megatherium var. phosphorous + Azotobacter spp + Flavobacterium spp (B2), nitrogen applied at rates of 80kg/f (N) plus control. The treatments were arranged in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) in four replicates. The results showed that the combinations of B1 and B2 with N increased plant growth compared to B1, B2, and N each alone at both seasons. The general trend was the combinations (B2+N, B1+N) had significant effect on all growth parameters in both seasons. Yield components increased with combination (B2+N) followed by (B1+N), the maximum seed yield (5.0 and 2.8t/ha) was achieved by the interaction of (C2*B2+N) in the first season and (C2*B1+N) in the second season, respectively. Generally, in among all treatments, the combination of B2+N increased nitrogen content, crude protein and fiber irrespective to maize genotypes. Moreover, C2 showed the highest values as compared to C1. In conclusion, improvement in maize plant growth and yield are more prominent and significant when genotype ZML309 inoculated with Bacillus megatherium var. phosphorous + Azotobacter spp + Flavobacterium spp and supplemented with 80kg/f nitrogen.