Abstract
Using the 15N dilution method, a pot experiment was conducted to study the effect of Azospirillum inoculation under different levels of farmyard manure (0, 5, and 10 t/ha) on N2 fixation, growth and N yield of two maize cultivars. The percentage of nitrogen fixation (%Ndfa) by Azospirillum inoculation varied from 6% to 31% according to Azospirillum species and plant cultivars. Application of FYM at the rate of 5 t/ha decreased the nitrogen fixation in both cultivars and it was completely inhibited at a higher level (10 t/ha). Significant increases in the N yield were recorded in both cultivars irrespective of the FYM level (up to 10 t/ha). Such increases were mainly attributed to increases in shoot dry weights, as well as increases in the percentage of N derived mainly from the soil and fertilizer, not from N2 fixation. Azospirillum spp. showed a higher degree of host specificity, and the degree of specificity occurred at plant cultivar level.
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El-Komy, H.M.A., Moharram, T.M.M., Safwat, M.S.A. (1998). Effect of Azospirillum inoculation on growth and N2 fixation of maize subjected to different levels of FYM using 15N-dilution method. In: Malik, K.A., Mirza, M.S., Ladha, J.K. (eds) Nitrogen Fixation with Non-Legumes. Developments in Plant and Soil Sciences, vol 79. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-011-5232-7_6
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-011-5232-7_6
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