Effect of <i>Bacillus subtilis</i> inoculation and nitrogen fertilization on maize yield

Abstract

The aim of this work was to evaluate the effect of Bacillus subtilis inoculation and nitrogen fertilization on maize growth and yield. The experiment was carried out in an experimental area at the Training Center of EMATER, in Teresina, Piauí, Brazil. The treatments were disposed in a completely randomized block design in factorial scheme of 5 x 2, with five N doses (0, 40, 80, 120 and 160 kg N ha^-1) and two microbiological treatments (with and without inoculation). In the inoculated treatment, a product formulated with Bacillus subtilis, strain PRBS-1, was used. The sowing was carried out in an experimental plot of 3.2 m x 5.0 m and the data collection was made 50 and 76 days after plants emergence for the growth and yield evaluation, respectively. Significant effects were observed for inoculation and N doses in all variables, except for plant height. A significant increase for N accumulation in the shoot and chlorophyll reading was observed with the Bacillus subtilis inoculation. The highest grain yields were found with use of N doses in rates equal or over 120 kg ha^-1 and with the use of inoculation. Seed inoculation with Bacillus subtilis, associated with N fertilization, improved
growth and increased maize yield.