Grain yield and its components in Azospirillum inoculated triticale exposed to water stress

A 2-year side by side experiment on triticale was carried out under different nitrogen sources and water regimes in a typical Mediterranean environment of Iran. There were two levels of water regimes [normal irrigation (IRN) and irrigation cut off after anthesis stage (IRMD)]. Rain-fed treatment (IR0) was included in the second year. Three N sources [Azospirillum brasilense (Bio), Azospirillum brasilense + 50% chemical N fertilizer (Bio + N50) and sole chemical N fertilizer: 150 kg N ha-1 (N150)] and control unfertilized (N0) plots were used. This study proved that the highest grain yield (6258 kg ha-1) was achieved by chemical N fertilizer application (N150). In contrast, the applicationof Bio + N50 resulted in the highest grain yield as compared with the other N sources under IRMD (3912 kg ha-1) and IR0 (2960 kg ha-1) conditions. Totally, integration of biofertilizer and chemical N fertilizer could be successfully used for increasing grain yield of triticale, especially under deficit irrigation regimes toward a more sustainable farming system in arid Mediterranean conditions.

Keywords:

grain yield , yield component , biofertilizer , triticale