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Nitrogen fixation byAzospirillum spp. and effect ofAzospirillum lipoferum on the yield and N-uptake of wheat crop

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Summary

Seven isolates belonged toA. brasilense and 3 belonged toA. lipoferum. Isolates having more denitrifying capacity fixed less nitrogen in nitrogen free semi-solid malate medium. One strain ofA. lipoferum having high nitrogen fixing capacity with negative test for denitrification was tested as inoculant to supplement the nitrogen need of a wheat crop in field condition with different doses of N with and without the inoculant. While control without nitrogen yielded 1260 kg/ha the yield in inoculated treatment was 2070 kg/ha resulting in significant increase. In a treatment receiving 40 kg N/ha the grain yield was 2370 kg/ha as against yield of 3110 kg/ha in a similar treatment receiving fertiliser plus inoculant. Thus increase in yield was about 30%. Further the treatment receiving 80 kg N/ha yielded 2970 kg/ha as against yield of 4150 kg/ha in a treatment receiving inoculant alongwith the above dose of the fertiliser. Thus increase in yield due to application of inoculant was about 36%. Similarly, the uptake of N in different treatments was augmented due to inoculation of seeds with the culture.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Microbiology, Indian Agricultural research Institute, New Delhi-12, India

    S. N. Rai & A. C. Gaur

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  1. S. N. Rai
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  2. A. C. Gaur
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Rai, S.N., Gaur, A.C. Nitrogen fixation byAzospirillum spp. and effect ofAzospirillum lipoferum on the yield and N-uptake of wheat crop. Plant Soil 69, 233–238 (1982). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02374518

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02374518

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