Magnesium Sources and Inoculation with Azospirillum brasilense in the Initial Development of Maize

The aim was to evaluate the initial development of maize plants when submitted to mineral fertilization with magnesium sources in the presence or absence of seed inoculation with Azospirillum brasilense. To do so, was conducted an experiment in greenhouse. In the essay was adopted a randomized blocks design, in a factorial scheme 3 × 2, represented by the magnesium sources: magnesium sulfate (MgSO4), magnesium oxide (MgO) and control without Mg fertilization, in the presence or absence of inoculation with A. brasilense. The Mg sources were supplied with a dose of 30 kg ha-1, being homogenized in the substrate before sowing the crop. The analysis were carried out in the V4 stage, evaluating: basal stem diameter (BSD); relative chlorophyll content (SPAD index), leaf dry mass (LDM), stem + sheath blade dry mass (SSDM) and root dry mass (RDM). No differences were observed for the factors interaction and for the Mg sources. When considered the seed inoculation there was increases of 7.1%; 6.61%; 19.23%; 28.32%; and 15.17 %, for basal stem diameter, SPAD index, leaf dry mass, stem + sheath blade dry mass and roots, respectively. The inoculation of maize seeds with A. brasilense increases the initial development of maize plants and the SPAD index in greenhouse conditions in the V4, while the fertilization with the magnesium sources do not interfere in the maize development.