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Galindo FS, Pagliari PH, da Silva EC, de Lima BH, Fernandes GC, Thiengo CC, Bernardes JVS, Jalal A, Oliveira CES, de Sousa Vilela L, Furlani Junior E, Nogueira TAR, do Nascimento V, Teixeira Filho MCM, Lavres J. Impact of nitrogen fertilizer sustainability on corn crop yield: the role of beneficial microbial inoculation interactions. BMC Plant Biol 2024; 24:268. [PMID: 38605320 PMCID: PMC11008049 DOI: 10.1186/s12870-024-04971-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2024] [Accepted: 04/01/2024] [Indexed: 04/13/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Considering the challenges posed by nitrogen (N) pollution and its impact on food security and sustainability, it is crucial to develop management techniques that optimize N fertilization in croplands. Our research intended to explore the potential benefits of co-inoculation with Azospirillum brasilense and Bacillus subtilis combined with N application rates on corn plants. The study focused on evaluating corn photosynthesis-related parameters, oxidative stress assay, and physiological nutrient use parameters. Focus was placed on the eventual improved capacity of plants to recover N from applied fertilizers (AFR) and enhance N use efficiency (NUE) during photosynthesis. The two-year field trial involved four seed inoculation treatments (control, A. brasilense, B. subtilis, and A. brasilense + B. subtilis) and five N application rates (0 to 240 kg N ha-1, applied as side-dress). RESULTS Our results suggested that the combined effects of microbial consortia and adequate N-application rates played a crucial role in N-recovery; enhanced NUE; increased N accumulation, leaf chlorophyll index (LCI), and shoot and root growth; consequently improving corn grain yield. The integration of inoculation and adequate N rates upregulated CO2 uptake and assimilation, transpiration, and water use efficiency, while downregulated oxidative stress. CONCLUSIONS The results indicated that the optimum N application rate could be reduced from 240 to 175 kg N ha-1 while increasing corn yield by 5.2%. Furthermore, our findings suggest that replacing 240 by 175 kg N ha-1 of N fertilizer (-65 kg N ha-1) with microbial consortia would reduce CO2 emission by 682.5 kg CO2 -e ha-1. Excessive N application, mainly with the presence of beneficial bacteria, can disrupt N-balance in the plant, alter soil and bacteria levels, and ultimately affect plant growth and yield. Hence, highlighting the importance of adequate N management to maximize the benefits of inoculation in agriculture and to counteract N loss from agricultural systems intensification.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fernando Shintate Galindo
- College of Agricultural and Technological Sciences, Department of Crop Production, São Paulo State University, Dracena, 17900-000, Brazil.
| | - Paulo Humberto Pagliari
- Southwest Research and Outreach Center, Department of Soil, Water, and Climate, University of Minnesota, Lamberton, MN, 56152, USA
| | - Edson Cabral da Silva
- Department of Plant Health, Rural Engineering, and Soils, São Paulo State University, Ilha Solteira, 15345-000, Brazil
| | - Bruno Horschut de Lima
- Department of Plant Health, Rural Engineering, and Soils, São Paulo State University, Ilha Solteira, 15345-000, Brazil
| | - Guilherme Carlos Fernandes
- Department of Plant Health, Rural Engineering, and Soils, São Paulo State University, Ilha Solteira, 15345-000, Brazil
| | - Cassio Carlette Thiengo
- Center for Nuclear Energy in Agriculture, University of São Paulo, Piracicaba, 13416-000, Brazil
| | | | - Arshad Jalal
- King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal, 23955-6900, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
| | - Carlos Eduardo Silva Oliveira
- Department of Plant Health, Rural Engineering, and Soils, São Paulo State University, Ilha Solteira, 15345-000, Brazil
| | - Lucila de Sousa Vilela
- College of Agricultural and Technological Sciences, Department of Crop Production, São Paulo State University, Dracena, 17900-000, Brazil
| | - Enes Furlani Junior
- Department of Plant Health, Rural Engineering, and Soils, São Paulo State University, Ilha Solteira, 15345-000, Brazil
| | | | - Vagner do Nascimento
- College of Agricultural and Technological Sciences, Department of Crop Production, São Paulo State University, Dracena, 17900-000, Brazil
| | | | - José Lavres
- Center for Nuclear Energy in Agriculture, University of São Paulo, Piracicaba, 13416-000, Brazil
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