Uso de carvão e biochar associado ao Bacillus Subtilis na promoção do crescimento da cultura do milho

Abstract

The use of soil conditioners associated with rhizobacteria can provide changes in soil quality, allowing advances in sustainable agriculture. The objective of this study was to investigate the response of the use of biochar and charcoal associated with Bacillus subtilis on soil microbial activity and corn yield. The experiment was conducted in two locations with distinct soils (sandy and clayey) in the corn second crop under cerrado conditions in the year 2024. The treatments consisted of the application of charcoal and biochar alone or associated with B. subtilis before corn sowing. The experimental design was a randomized block with four replications. The evaluation of soil microbial activity was performed, represented by the analysis of microbial biomass, respiration and enzymatic activity of the soil and corn growth at 60 days and at the end of the crop cycle, the evaluation of corn grain yield was performed. Distinct responses were found in soil biological properties as a function of the addition of residues and rhizobacteria. The introduction of Bacillus subtilis increased the activity of dehydrogenase and arylsulfatase enzymes, while charcoal increased the activity of glucosidase and phosphatase in sandy soil. In addition, the isolated inoculation of B. subtilis showed the best performance in promoting corn yield in two evaluated locations. The study was conducted in a limited experimental period, which may have influenced the results of the treatments used. The interaction between biochar and B. subtilis, as well as between charcoal and B. subtilis, did not show differences between the treatments evaluated in the experiment. The introduction of this rhizobacteria may represent a promising strategy for improving soil biological quality and agronomic performance of corn crops, especially in the short term.