Evaluation of effects of Azotobacter inoculation and manure on growth of rainfed wheat

In this research the effect of three Azotobacter inoculums in solid and liquid carrier were evaluated on growth and yield of rainfed wheat in Maragheh (Iran). The project was randomized complete block design with four replications which included control, solid A and B inoculants, liquid inoculum, farmyard manure, nitrogen fertilizer, a mixture of inoculums and manure. The results showed that the inoculants had not significant effects on growth indices, but inoculants + manure especially in liquid inoculums had the highest effect on growth and yield of wheat. Inoculation increased by 36.2% the seed yield, 37.8% the yield of shoot + root, 73% the N-uptake, 79% the P-uptake, 45% the Zn uptake, 27.6% the protein of seed over control. Manure without inoculum increased by 13.7% in seed yield, 42.5% in N-uptake, 57.5% in P-uptake and 25.8% in seed protein over control. The solid inoculants (A and B) + manure had significant effects on Zinc uptake. The seed protein content increased by 22.1 % due to the solid B inoculum.