Frequência de irrigação e inoculação com Bacillus aryabhattai no desempenho agronômico do sorgo granífero

Abstract

Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L.) is a ideal crop for regions affected by drought due to its tolerance to water stress. The Brazilian semi-arid region is characterized by a negative water balance, which is detrimental to several crops, making it necessary to develop studies aimed at minimizing the effects of water scarcity. This study aimed to evaluate the main growth parameters (plant height and stem diameter) and yield-related parameters (panicle mass and harvest time) of sorghum under arvest irrigation frequencies (F1, F2, F3, F4, and F5), associated with the presence or absence of inoculation with the bacterium Bacillus aryabhattai. The work was conducted at the Federal University of Ceará – Pici Campus, between the months of September and December 2025. The experimental design was a randomized block design in a 5 × 2 factorial arrangement, with four replications, totaling 40 experimental plots. Higher irrigation frequencies promoted significant increases in plant growth, expressed by greater plant height, stem diameter, and leaf area, as well as higher productivity, with increased panicle mass and a shorter harvest time. Inoculation with B. aryabhattai showed significant effects on some variables, depending on water availability, demonstrating the importance of integrating irrigation management with the use of Plant Growth-Promoting Bacteria (PGPB) in sorghum cultivation.