Improved Maize Growth in Condition Controlled by PGPR Inoculation on Ferruginous Soil in Central Benin

Abstract

The use of microbial technologies in agriculture is rapidly expanding with the discovery of new bacterial strains effective in improving plant growth. In this study, we tested and highlighted the efficacy of PGPR (Plant Growth Promoting Rhizobacteria) alone or in a consortium on maize growth. For this purpose, a greenhouse experiment was carried out in pots containing sterilized ferruginous soil for 30 days. The corn seeds of the EVDT 97 SRT C1 variety were inoculated with bacterial suspensions of concentration 108 UFC/ml. The experimental device was a random block of 16 three-repeat treatments. The incidence of PGPR inoculated strains is assessed on the biomass growth and yield parameters of maize. At the end of the trial, the results showed that inoculation stimulated plant growth and development and resulted in a significant increase in the height, diameter at the collar, leaf surface and dry weight of aerial biomass of 20.15%, 21%, 32.77% and 37.73% respectively compared to controls, especially in corn plants inoculated with B. thurengiensis + B. panthéthonicus + S. marcescens and Pseudomonas cichorii + Pseudomonas putida + Pseudomonas syringae. These results show the potential of using these rhizobacteria as biological inoculants to improve maize productivity in Benin.