The role of Azospirillum lipoferum bacteria in sustainable production of maize

This research was carried out to study the effect of Azospirillum lipoferum on declining the consumption of nitrogen fertilizer on maize (Zea mays L.), var.K.S.C.704, at the Research Station of the Faculty of Agriculture in Tabriz University. The treatments consisted of different amounts of nitrogen fertilizer with four levels (0, 70, 140 and 210 kg/ha) and with or without Azospirillum inoculation of seeds. A factorial experiment was conducted with three replications on the base of randomized complete block design. Inoculation with Azospirillum lipoferum produced the highest grain yield 12.14 ton/ha, and without inoculation the lowest grain yield (10.68 ton/ha) was obtained. The results showed that the inoculation with Azospirillum increased the yield, percentage of nitrogen in grains, number of grains in a cob row, flag leaf area, ear length and number of grains in ear. It can be concluded that using 140 kg of nitrogen fertilizer per hectare and inoculation of maize seeds by Azospirillum could reduce the application of nitrogen fertilizer, increase the grain yield up to 30 percent and prevent pollution of environment by extended sustainable agriculture.