Inoculation methods: CONTROL (non-inoculated); SEED (standard seed inoculation); SOIL (soil spray inoculation at the V2.5 stage); FOLIAR (leaf spray inoculation at the V2.5 stage); FURROW (inoculation in the planting furrow at sowing).
Inhibitory effects of the soil spray inoculation with two doses of inoculant (T10) on NC were evident both in Ponta Grossa and Cachoeira Dourada (Table 6).
Foliar and soil spray inoculations of pots containing maize plants were performed 11 DAE, during the V2.5 vegetative stage (Hickman and Shroyer 1994).
Different doses of inoculants containing Azospirillum brasilense were employed to perform inoculation in-furrow, via soil spray at sowing and via leaf spray after seedlings had emerged, in comparison to seed inoculation.
For the maize crop 1 dose of inoculant corresponded to the application of 1.0 × 105 cells seed−1 for seed inoculation (SI) and in-furrow (IPF) and to 1.0 × 105 cells plant−1 for leaf spray (ILS) and soil spray (ISS).
In the greenhouse, most parameters measured responded positively to the largest inoculant dose used in foliar sprays, but benefits could also be observed from both in-furrow and soil spray inoculation.
In the case of inoculation in-furrow, as well as of foliar and soil spray inoculations, inoculants were diluted with water to a final volume of 150 L ha−1.
Inoculation by soil spray with one dose of inoculant in addition to full N fertilization (T16) significantly increased plant height (PH) relative to all treatments with seed inoculation and to the non-inoculated control that received 75%% N (Table 4).
In the comparison of treatments and the control receiving 75%% of N, wheat yield responded significantly to inoculation of seeds, and leaf and soil spray, confirming the benefits of Azospirillum inoculation (Fig. 2).
