Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of the plant growth-promoting rhizobacterium, Azospirillum brasilense, on the hydroponic cultivation of basil (Ocimum basilicum L.). The trial was carried out in the Agricultural Microbiology laboratory of the Faculty of Agricultural Sciences of the National University of Catamarca located in the city of San Fernando del Valle de Catamarca (Argentina) and basil plants were grown in the hydroponic system of “Floating Root” where 3 treatments were established (T. 1: Inoculated with Azospirillum brasilense and commercial solution for hydroponics; T. 2: Control (commercial solution for hydroponics) and T. 3 = HAKAFOS (Commercial fertilizer solution). Plant height, root length and fresh weight of the aerial part at the time of harvest were recorded. The design was completely randomized with 3 replications; the data were subjected to analysis of variance and LSD test (p≤0.05). The plants inoculated with the bacterium Azospirillum brasilense (Pi 8 strain) produced plants with greater growth than the controls and with the use of commercial fertilizer. Implementing a hydroponic system for the production of basil using the bacterial inoculant of Azospirillum brasilense Pi 8 strain) in the nutrient solution is very efficient and achieves rapid plant growth and produces a safe food.

Keywords

Azospirillum brasilense, hydroponics, floating root