DEVELOPMENT OF CORN HYBRIDS (Zea mays) UNDER INOCULATION OF DIAZOTROPHIC BACTERIA AND NITROGEN FERTILIZATION

The aim of this work was to evaluate the development of corn genotypes under the effect of inoculation with Azospirillum brasilense in association with nitrogen fertilization. The experimental design was completely randomized in a factorial design (5x2x2) with three replications. Five corn hybrids were used, combined with two doses of nitrogen (N) (without N and with 100 kg ha-1 N) and with two inoculation levels of A.brasilense (without and with inoculation). Plant stature and stem diameter at stadiums V8 and R1, leaf chlorophyll content at stadium R1 and dry mass at stadium R2 were evaluated. It was observed that when there was variation in the evaluated parameters, this was due to the different genetic materials and mainly due to the application of N. Inoculation with A.brasilense was not effective in altering the corn development.