Agricultural sustainability: boinputs from bacteria as alternatives to improve the physiological and morphological development of Urochloa decumbens cv. Basilisk

• Published in: Revista Brasileira de Ciências Ambientais (Online) Vol. 59
• Main Authors: Silva, Lucas Santos da, Espíndola, Natália Lima de, Tavares, Brena Maíza de Siqueira, Santos, José Matheus Gonzaga, Barbosa, Vitor Mineu Silva, Andrade, Pedro Avelino Maia de, Oliveira, João Tiago Correia
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 2024
• ISSN: 1808-4524; 2176-9478
• DOI: 10.5327/Z2176-94781980

Microorganisms play a crucial role when closely associated with plants and can be considered a new sustainable tool for protecting and promoting pasture growth. The aim of this work was to prospect a microbial consortium (MIX) with the ability to promote the growth and development of Urochloa decumbens cv. Basilisk pastures, based on the hypothesis that MIX may have similar potential to chemical fertilization. To achieve the objectives, seven treatments were carried out, five of which were with MIXs (MIX 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5, previously taxonomically and biotechnologically characterized), one treatment with chemical fertilization, and one control treatment — without co-inoculation or chemical fertilization. It was possible to observe that, in general, the MIXs had the potential to increase the chlorophyll content, number of leaves and tillers, root length, and green and dry root mass compared to the control and chemical fertilizer treatments. The MIX 1 specifically, made up of bacteria from the genera Klebsiella sp., Rhizobium sp., and Sinomonas sp. showed a high potential for increase, surpassing the treatment with chemical fertilization, especially in the variables green and dry mass of the root with increases of 46 and 36%, respectively, number of leaves with 36%, and number of tillers with 37%. Microbial consortia could become an ecologically, socially, and economically viable alternative to maintaining pastures.