IMPROVEMENT OF THE NITROGEN UPTAKE AND NITROGEN-CONTENT IN MAIZE (ZEA-MAYS L) BY INOCULATION WITH AZOSPIRILLUM-BRASILENSE

The effect of inoculation with Azospirillum brasilense on leaf area in dex (LAI), N content in plants, N uptake by plants and N-use efficienc y was examined in three field experiments conducted during the years 1 988-1990. Inoculation led to an increase in leaf area index (LAI) at m ost sampling dates during maize development, Leaf nitrogen contents wa s consistently higher in the presence of A. brasilense at most phenoph ases at 0 and 100 kg N ha(-1). The percentage nitrogen remained sig. h igher in total biomass and grain of the inoculated plants at 0 and 100 kg N ha(-1). Inoculation of maize with A. brasilense affected the upt ake of fertilizer and soil nitrogen by the plants particularly at subo ptimal levels of N fertilization. An increase in the nitrogen use effi ciency at 100 kg N ha(-1) was found.