The Effect of Plant Growth Promoting Bacteria on physiological and Phenological traits of maize (Zea mays L.) at different levels of Nitrogen Fertilizer

In order to study the effect of Plant Growth Promoting Bacteria (PGPR) at different levels of nitrogen fertilizer on agronomic traits of maize (SC 704), an experiment was conducted in split plot in randomized complete block designed with three replications at Khash Pyame Noor of University in Iran in 2011-2012 cropping season. Four different levels of nitrogen fertilizer (non-using, 25% (equivalent to 87.5 kg.ha-1), 50% (equivalent to 175 kg.ha-1) and 100% ((equivalent to 350 kg.ha-1)) were chosen as main plot and bio-fertilizer at three levels (non inoculation, inoculation with Azotobacter and Azospirillum) were assigned as subplot. Results of this study indicated that nitrogen fertilizer had significant effect on days to silking emergence and days to maturity. The highest days to silking emergence and days to maturity were obtained from non-using treatment. Also, Results of this study indicated that nitrogen fertilizer had significant effect on days to germination, days to silking emergence and days to maturity. The highest days to germination and days to silking emergence observed in non inoculation treatment, but the highest days to maturity was obtained from inoculation with Azotobacter. In this experiment showed that nitrogen fertilizer and bio-fertilizer had positive effect on growth indices, so that the highest LAI, CGR and NAR observed inoculation with Azotobacter treatment.

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