ABSTRACT:

The evaluation of plant growth-promoting bacteria in order to increase corn productivity is a biotechnology of global interest. This study evaluated the efficiency of the consortium between P. fluorescens CNPSo 2719(=CCTB03) and A. brasilense Ab-V06 in corn. Four experiments were carried out in four different locations, with a randomized block design and four replications, with the treatments: (1) without inoculation and without application of N coverage; (2) without inoculation and application of 100% of the recommended dose of N in coverage (200 kg ha^-1 of N); (3) Azospirillum brasilense + application of 75% of the recommended dose of N in coverage (150 kg ha^-1 of N); (4) bacterial consortium of Azospirillum brasilense + Pseudomonas fluorescens + application of 75% of the recommended dose of N in coverage (150 kg ha^-1 of N). In all locations, with the use of the bacterial consortium (A. brasilense + P. fluorescens) + 75% of the recommended dose of N in coverage, it was possible to reduce the dose of N in coverage by up to 25% without compromising the productivity of the crop. In this way, it is concluded that the use of the consortium of the two bacteria promotes savings of up to 25% of N fertilization in top dressing and the possibility of using two microorganisms with the capacity to stimulation plant growth with a single application.

Key words:
Azospirillum brasilense; Pseudomonas fluorescens; Zea mays; inoculant; plant growth-promoting bacteria; nitrogen