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International Conference on

Recent Trends in Environmental Sustainability

ESCON22/ETERM/18
Impact of bacterial consortium seed inoculation and silicon spray in mitigating the
drought stress in maize (Zea mays L.)

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Muhammad Saleem* , Fahim Nawaz , Rao Muhammad Ikam and Muhammad Baqir Hussain 2
1 Department of Agronomy MNS-University of Agriculture, Multan
2 Department of Soil and Environmental Sciences MNS-University of Agriculture, Multan
Correspondence: hafizsaleemkhan13@gmail.com

Abstract

Extreme climatic conditions are major threat for food security in the world. Among the abiotic
stresses, drought is a major stress which causes heavy yield losses in food crops especially in
maize. In developing countries including Pakistan, there is a need to develop eco-friendly and
sustainable approach to increase the crop yield under water deficit conditions. The present
study explored the utilization of drought tolerant bacterial strains by seed inoculation and
silicon (Si) foliar spray to enhance the yield components and yield of maize under drought
stress conditions. In the research area of MNS-University of Agriculture, Multan, 2-year maize
field trial, using a randomized complete block design with a split-split plot arrangement, we
evaluated the effect of bacterial consortium (Bacillus sp. MN54 + Enterobacter sp. FD17) and
Si foliar spray at 4 mM under drought stress at vegetative and reproductive stages of maize.
The results showed that drought stress reduced cob length, number of grain rows per cob,
number of grains per cob, 1000-grain weight, biological and grain yield both at vegetative and
reproductive stages, while highest reduction was recorded at reproductive stage. The seed
inoculation of Bacillus sp. MN54 + Enterobacter sp. FD17 and Si foliar spray increased all
above-mentioned yield and yield attributes by 35%, 31%, 19%, 30%, 28% and 15%
respectively at vegetative and 24%, 34%, 20%, 29% and 18% at reproductive stage as
compared to control treatment. Finally, it was concluded that inoculation of bacterial strains
and Si spray is a best strategy to improve maize yield in arid regions.

Key words: Drought stress; Silicon; Bacterial consortium; Maize yield

Department of Environmental Sciences, COMSATS University Islamabad, Vehari Campus

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