Response of sugarcane varieties to application of nitrogen fixing bacteria under different nitrogen levels

Abstract

A field study was undertaken to evaluate the response of sugarcane varieties to application ofAzotobacter,Azospirillum andGluconacetobacter under different levels of fertilizer nitrogen.Azospirillum significantly improved the cane and sugar yield compared toGluconacetobacter, Azotobacter and uninoculated control.Gluconacetobacter andAzotobacter were on par.Gluconacetobacter was better than uninoculated control. There was differential response of varieties to Biofertilizers for cane yield and CCS per cent. Co 8014, Co 8122, Co 8021 and Co 6304 responded in terms of cane yield toAzospirillum while Co 8021 responded toGluconacetobacter and Co 6304 responded toAzotobacter. The response toAzospirillum in terms of cane yield was more under lower nitrogen level (200 kg ha^-1) compared to normal nitrogen level (300 kg ha^-1). Co 8122 showed a significant improvement in CCS per cent forAzotobacter, Azospirillum andGluconacetobacter, while CoC 85061 only toAzospirillum. Varieties Co 8014, Co 8021 and Co 6304 did not show any improvement in CCS percent for biofertilizers. Biofertilizers significantly improved the nitrogen content of stem at 200 and 300 kg N ha^-1 compared to control. Biofertilizers did not influence the soil available nitrogen status.