Azospirillum brasilense: UMA REVISÃO SOBRE A INOCULAÇÃO DO MILHO VERDE NO BRASIL

Abstract

Green corn is an important crop in Brazil, being cultivated in all regions of the country. However, sustaining its production in tropical regions usually requires high doses of chemical fertilizers, which, when applied in excess, increase production costs and the risks of water, soil, and atmospheric contamination. Inoculation with plant growth-promoting bacteria, such as Azospirillum, has emerged as an alternative to reduce dependence on N-fertilizers. There is even recognition of the relevance of inoculants, consolidated in the Bioinputs Program of the State of Goiás. The objective of this review was to provide information on the adoption of Azospirillum brasilense in the productive performance of green corn in Brazil, through approaches described in the main current scientific literature. Thus, we compiled the results obtained so far regarding the application of A. brasilense in this crop. The use of A. brasilense has intensified in recent years in several agricultural crops, especially corn, wheat, rice, soybean, and common bean. In corn intended for grain production, several studies have shown significant results in increasing root growth, water and nitrogen uptake, grain yield, and operational profit. However, research on inoculation in green corn is still limited. Many large Brazilian producers are already adopting bioinoculants, so educational efforts regarding such bioinputs should now be directed mainly toward medium and small farmers. The success achieved in the main producing regions of Brazil during the 1st and 2nd Harvests may encourage studies in other regions of the country and abroad, adopting native strains of Azospirillum spp.