The effect of azospirillum inoculation on growth and yield of corn¹

Commercial yields of sweet corn cv. Jubilee were increased by field inoculation with Azospirillum. This bacterium was found in association with grass roots in different soils all over the world. In field experiments carried out in several parts of Israel Azospirillum was shown to affect both vegetative and reproductive growth of corn at different levels of nitrogen fertilization. Effects on vegetative growth included increase in plant height and fresh and dry weight of plant foliage. The effects on reproductive structures were expressed mainly via increase in ear number per plant. It was concluded that it may be possible partially to replace combined N fertilizer in corn by Azospirillum.