Application of effective microorganisms to reduce mineral nitrogen for feeding wheat

Abstract

The key to future agricultural production is an ecological approach in order to obtain health-safe food. In this regard, the application of effective microorganisms (EM) in all production systems is a new technological measure. The goal of the research is to determine how the application of EM and different amounts of nitrogen fertilizer affect the yield parameters of bread wheat plants and soil microbial parameters in the rhizosphere. The research was carried out in the field in the period 2017-2019 (factor A) in Serbia, by growing the bread wheat variety Ratarica, in two different sowing densities (400 and 500 grains per m 2) (factor B). Factor C, fertilization treatments: F1 control = NPK (15:15:15) 400 kg ha-1 + 150 kg ha-1 UREA (46% N); F2 = F1 + 1 foliar treatment with EM preparation; F3 = NPK + 100 kg ha-1 UREA + 2 foliar treatments; F4 = NPK + 50 kg ha-1 UREA + 3 foliar treatments. The increase in soil microbial parameters was recorded in the F3 treatment (total number of microorganisms by 5.49% and the number of Azotobacter by 9.00%) compared to the control (p<0.01). The yield of grains was the highest in the F2 treatment (by 5.08%) compared to the control. It is concluded that in sustainable bread wheat production systems, with the application of EM, the amount of mineral nitrogen in the feed can be reduced by 25-30 kg ha-1 .

Keywords

• wheat
• fertilizer
• effective microorganisms
• soil biogenicity
• yield