NICOTINAMIDA E azospirillum brasilense PROMOVEM A PRODUTIVIDADE E A LUCRATIVIDADE NO CULTIVO DE SORGO

Abstract

Sorghum has become an important crop option for the second growing season, a period characterized by high instability in water availability. Although sorghum is considered drought-tolerant, studies have been conducted to improve grain yield through the application of biostimulants. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the effects of nicotinamide and Azospirillum brasilense, applied individually or in combination, at two sorghum growth stages. The treatments consisted of applying A. brasilense at 10 mL L-¹ and nicotinamide at 300 mg L-¹, either individually or in combination, at two phenological stages (2 and 6), in addition to a control without biostimulant application. Biometric and yield-related traits, as well as the economic performance of the treatments, were evaluated. Among the plant traits assessed, only grain yield was affected by nicotinamide and A. brasilense application. Moreover, all treatments involving biostimulant application increased economic return. For both grain yield and economic return, application at growth stage 6 produced the greatest response. Therefore, nicotinamide and A. brasilense, applied individually or in combination, increased sorghum grain yield and economic return, with the greatest numerical and economic responses observed at growth stage 6.