Effect of the inoculation of beneficial microorganisms and Quitomax® on Cenchrus ciliaris L., under conditions of agricultural drought

Abstract

A field trial was conducted, in order to evaluate the effect of the inoculation of two biofertilizers and a biostimulant on agroproductive variables of buffel grass (Cenchrus ciliaris L.), under conditions of agricultural drought. For such purpose, the isolate Ho5 (Bradyrhizobium sp.), ecoMic® (Funneliformis mosseae) and Quitomax® were used. The experimental design was randomized blocks, with nine treatments and eight replicas, and an ANOVA was performed. The differences among means were found through Fisher’s LSD. The following variables were evaluated: aerial part dry weight, stem length, spike length, spike dry weight, inflorescence and inoculation efficiency index (IEI). The best treatments in most of the studied variables were: ecoMic®+Quitomax®+Ho5, Ho5+ecoMic® and Ho5+Quitomax®, for showing higher results than the absolute control and other inoculated treatments. With the combination of ecoMic®+Quitomax®+Ho5, there was a high percentage of inflorescence (71 %); which suggests that the inclusion of Quitomax® in such combination should have influenced this variable effectively. It is concluded that the combination of the biofertilizers with Quitomax®, in general, showed a higher effect than the control; although ecoMic®+Quitomax®+Ho5 stood out, due to its superiority with regards to other treatments. On the other hand, the application of each biofertilizer, or of Quitomax®, alone, did not show higher results than the absolute control in most of the variables. To evaluate treatments in which these biopreparations were combined in different pasture grasses and different soil types, as well as the long-term effect of these biopreparations on the plant, is recommended.