Effects of Seed Microbial Inoculant on Growth, Yield, and Nutrition of Durum Wheat (Triticum Durum L.)

ABSTRACT

Fertile soils available for agriculture are gradually diminishing due to climate change, soil deterioration, the use of wrong chemicals, and restraints from urban developments. In the near future, micro-organisms that promote plant growth are foreseen to replace chemicals in agricultural and environmental clean-up strategies. The present study was conducted to determine whether the effect of microbial seed coating product containing Trichoderma spp, Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus megaterium, and Mychorrhiza microorganism on the growth, yield and seed nutrient content in durum wheat. The experiment was carried out in the field, in soil of the southeastern Anatolia region of Turkey, during 2015 and 2016 growing seasons. Four (0, 4, 8 and 12 ml kg⁻¹ seeds) doses of the microbial seed coating product were used as seed inoculants. The seeds inoculated with microorganism increased all characters examined in the study (except Ca and Cu). Low (4 and 8 ml kg⁻¹ seeds) doses of this microbial seed inoculant were suitable to increase yield and yield components in wheat. However, it was appropriate to use a higher (12 ml kg⁻¹ seeds) dose to increase the seed nutrient content. As a result, the microorganism containing Trichoderma spp, Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus megaterium, and Mychorrhiza appears to increase the yield, quality, and seed nutrient content in wheat. Studies on the use of such beneficial microorganisms are necessary for a sustainable and ecological agricultural wheat production.

KEYWORDS:

• Bio fertilizer
• nutrient content
• seed inoculation
• wheat