Rev. Bras. Ciênc. Solo.2019;43:e0180234.
Mitigation of Mombasa Grass ( Megathyrsus maximus ) Dependence on Nitrogen Fertilization as a Function of Inoculation with Azospirillum brasilense
Rubson da Costa Leite 
, Antonio Clementino dos Santos , José Geraldo Donizetti dos Santos , Robson da Costa Leite , Leonardo Bernardes Taverny de Oliveira , Mariangela Hungria
20/Aug/2019
DOI: 10.1590/18069657rbcs20180234
Graphical Abstract
Highlights
Inoculation reduced the dependence on nitrogen fertilization.
Inoculation increased tiller production and the roots of Mombasa grass.
There was an increase of 36 % in Mombasa grass productivity without nitrogen fertilization.
ABSTRACT
Using biological inputs to improve the efficiency of nitrogen fertilizers represents an alternative for the cultivation of grasses in tropical regions. Azospirillum brasilense is a species of plant growth promoting bacteria widely studied and used in inoculants. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate the performance of Mombasa grass ( Megathyrsus maximus ) in association with A. brasilense and nitrogen (N) fertilization. The study was conducted under field conditions in Araguaína-Tocantins State, between December 2017 and May 2018. The treatments were arranged in randomized blocks, in a 5 × 2 factorial arrangement, with five doses of N fertilization (0, 25, 50, 75, and 100 kg ha-1) combined with two inoculation treatments (inoculated and non inoculated), in four replicates. For the number of tillers and root production, the inoculation efficiency varied as a function of the supplied N doses. However, the percentage of leaf N was higher for inoculated plants regardless of the application of nitrogen. In the absence of nitrogen fertilization, it was possible to increase forage production by up to 36 % with inoculation.
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