The Role of Azotobacter in Improving the Agronomy Efficiency of Nitrogen Fertilizer and Growth and Root Production of Licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra L.) Plants Propagated through Seeds and Rhizomes

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 MSc Student in Agronomy- Crop Ecology, Department of Plant Production and Genetics, Faculty of Agriculture, Shahid Bahonar University of Kerman, Iran.

2 Department of Plant Production and Genetics, Faculty of Agriculture, Shahid Bahonar University of Kerman, Iran

3 Department of Plant Production and Genetics, Faculty of Agriculture, Shahid Bahonar University of Kerman, Iran.

10.22034/saps.2023.57199.3071

Abstract

Background and Objective: The aim of this study was to assess the possibility of reducing the chemical fertilizer application rate through inoculation of plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) for the cultivation of licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra L.) plants through seeds and rhizomes.
Materials and Methods: A field experiment was conducted with Azotobacter chroococcum (Ac) alone or in combination with varying levels of chemical fertilizers. The five treatments for the experiment were (i) control (no inoculation and fertilization) (ii) Ac inoculation; (iii) 100% recommended N (100% N); (iv) 50% recommended N (50% N); and (v) Ac+50% N which were evaluated in both propagation methods.
Results: The observed results revealed that microbial inoculation further influenced root and rhizome biomass production more than shoot biomass production. Integrated inoculation of Ac with 50% N applied, interestingly, improved the plant dry matter production by improving the leaf area index and led to an increase in the rhizome number and length, as well as roots, rhizomes, and total yield. It resulted in the highest nitrogen use efficiency and agronomy efficiency of fertilizer. Moreover, similar results without significant statistical differences were observed between bacterial inoculation +50% urea and 100% urea fertilization.
Conclusion: Findings suggest that A. chroococcum allows reducing nitrogen fertilization doses by up to 50% in licorice plants. The results of this study also showed that the licorice produced from the rhizome showed a multifold increase in various growth traits and yield compared to the licorice obtained from the seed during the first growing year.

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JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL SCIENCE AND SUSTAINABLE PRODUCTION

Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript
Available Online from 22 July 2025

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