Improving maize (Zea mays L.) yield by inoculation with some auxin producing Azotobacter isolates under fertilized conditions
1997
Zahir, Z.A. | Arshad, M. | Khaliq, A. | Abbas, S.A. (University of Agriculture, Faisalabad (Pakistan). Dept. of Soil Science)
Six Azotobacter isolates were obtained from the soil and their auxin production ability was measured calorimetrically. Maize seeds were inoculated with these Azotobacter isolates just before sowing them in the field amended with NPK fertilizers @ 175-125- 100 kg ha-1 respectively. Results showed that different Azotobacter isolates affected the maize yield and its contributing parameters to different extent. Azotobacter inoculation significantly increased the grain yield (upto 17.6%), straw yield (upto 21.4%), fresh cob weight (upto 199.9%), cob length (upto 11.2%), number of grain rows cob-1 (upto 12.8%) and 1000 grain weight (upto 7.3%), compared with uninoculated control (fertilizer application alone). There was a significant negative correlation between L-tryptophan-derived auxin production (indole acetic acid equivalents) by Azotobacter isolates in vitro and grain yield (r = -0.890), number of cobs plant-1 (r = -0.860), 1000-grain weight (r = -0.813), fresh cob weight (-0.797), cob length (r = -0.861), plant height 9(r = -0.839) and grain rows cob-1 (r = -0.845) of maize. The possible mechanisms of action are discussed.
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