Response of Sweet Corn to Microbial Inoculation by Gluconacetobacter diazotrophicus

A field experiment was conducted to study the effect of seed inoculation of Gluconacetobacter diazotrophicus on growth parameters, nutrient uptake and yield of sweet corn. Among different inoculation treatments, seed inoculation with G. diazotrophicus (Phule Madhu strain) + 50% recommended dose of nitrogen was found to be the most effective as it recorded significantly highest germination (94.33 %) and plant vigour index (3249.32) at 15 days after sowing; significantly highest plant height at 30 and 60 days after sowing and at harvest stage the crop (53.56 cm, 144.12 cm and 155.74 cm, respectively); significantly highest root length (22.96 cm and 26.79 cm) and dry matter production (37.29 q ha-1 and 74.31 q ha-1) at flowering and harvest stage of the crop; significantly highest green cob yield (287.57 q ha-1) and green fodder yield (555.01 q ha-1) at 80 days after sowing; significantly highest G. diazotrophicus population at flowering (6.75x106 g-1 fresh weight of shoot) and at harvest (5.68 x 106 g-1 fresh weight of shoot) stage of the crop; significantly highest nitrogen uptake (488.87 kg ha-1) and sugar content (18.19 % brix) of sweet corn grain, however it was as statistically at par with the treatment of seed inoculation with G. diazotrophicus (MPKV strain) + 50% recommended dose of N and 100% recommended dose of N without G. diazotrophicus for growth parameters, nutrient uptake, yield and sugar content of sweet corn grains. The results indicated saving of 50% chemical nitrogen fertilizer to sweet corn.