Abstract

GRELLET NAVAL, Noel et al. Evaluation of strain Azospirillum brasilense Az39 as a biofertilizer for the cultivation of sweet sorghum. Rev. ind. agric. Tucumán [online]. 2017, vol.94, n.1, pp.31-39. ISSN 1851-3018.

Sweet sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench) is one of the most promising bioenergy crops in northwestern Argentina, be currently used as a complementary crop to sugar cane. Sweet sorghum agronomic management involves the use of synthetic fertilizers, especially nitrogen, in order to supply nutritional requirements and to optimize crop yields. However, considering the high energy costs of these synthetic nitrogen fertilizers, efficient use is critical. Indiscriminate use of these chemicals not only causes physical, chemical and biological soil degradation, but also contributes to global warming due to its influence on nitrous oxide emissions (N2O). An ecological and sustainable alternative to reduce nitrogen fertilizers utilization is the use of plant growth promoting bacteria (PGPB), capable of stimulating crop growth and development through different mechanisms. Azospirillum is one of the most studied PGPB bacteria, being A. brasilense Az39 strain the most recommended in our country for the development of biofertilizers in non-leguminous crops. The aim of this study was to evaluate A. brasilense Az39 strain as a potential biofertilizer for sweet sorghum crop. For this, inoculation test were performed under greenhouse conditions, where both the ability of Az39 strain to improve emergency and to colonize and promote crop growth and development were evaluated. Results showed that Az39 strain inoculation increased seedling emergence and promoted growth and development rates of both aerial and root plant system, from 42. DPI. This plant growth promoting effect was associated with endophytic and rhizosphere bacterial plant tissue and soil colonization.

Keywords : sustaintability; biofertilization; bioenergy.

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