ABSTRACT
Substances and microorganisms that promote plant growth have been made available to rural farmers to increase crop yields. This work aimed to evaluate nitrogen doses and products containing microorganisms, growth promoting substances or both, on the yield and production components of the 'BRS Guamirim' wheat cultivar, as well as evaluate whether the complementary addition of N by urea is effective in maintaining a higher yield in wheat inoculated with Azospirillum brasilense, and whether such inoculation can totally or partially replace nitrogen fertilisation in wheat. The experiment was conducted in Coxilha in the State of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, in the 2014 season. The experimental design was of randomised blocks with four replications. The study comprised nine treatments: one control; four products (Azospirillum brasilense, synthetic plant hormone, mineral plant stimulator and biofertiliser); one treatment with the simultaneous use of the four products; and three additional doses of nitrogen (0, 40 and 120 kg ha-1) together with Azospirillum. The wheat cultivar was evaluated for grain yield, yield components, apparent harvest index, hectolitre weight, shoot dry matter and N content, and vegetation index. The evaluated products, containing microorganisms and/or growth promoting substances, do not alter wheat grain yield in the absence of water or nutritional deficiency. Azospirillum brasilense does neither totally nor partially replace nitrogen fertilisation in the 'BRS Guamirim' wheat cultivar.
Key words:
Triticum aestivum L.; Synthetic plant hormones; Mineral plant stimulators; Biofertilizer
