EFFECT OF INOCULATION WITH AZOSPIRILLUM BRASILENSE ON FOLIAGE AND STORAGE ROOT YIELD OF SWEETPOTATO GROWN HYDROPONICALLY IN AN NFT SYSTEM

• Published in: HortScience Vol. 27; no. 11; p. 1170
• Main Authors: Trotman, A.A, Mortley, D. G, David., P.P, Carver, G.W
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 01.11.1992
• ISSN: 0018-5345; 2327-9834
• DOI: 10.21273/HORTSCI.27.11.1170g

The effect of inoculation of sweetpotato ( Ipomea batatas L. (Lam.)) cultivar “TI-82-155” with Azospirillum brasilense was investigated in an observational greenhouse experiment. Sweetpotato was grown in a closed hydroponic system and plant nutrients were supplied in a Modified Half-strength Hoagland's solution (N:K 1:2.4) using a nutrient film technique system (NFT). Plants were either supplied with mineral nitrogen (160 ppm) and noninoculated or were supplied mineral nitrogen (160 ppm) and inoculated. Storage root dry matter was higher under inoculation with A. brasilense. Inoculation also increased the percent total nitrogen in the shoot, leaves, and fibrous root. There was a significant difference in fresh fibrous root weight for the inoculated (262.5 g) over the noninoculated (177.1 g) treatments. Mineral nitrogen supplied in the PNS was not limiting because dry matter for plants inoculated with A. brasilense was not significantly higher than for the noninoculated control.