Effect of temperature and storage time on the Azofert®-F´s quality

Abstract

The objective of this work was to determine the effect of temperature and storage time on the concentration of the active principle and the biological activity of the Azofert^®-F biofertilizer. Inoculants with Rhizobium leguminosarum CF1 strain were stored at 4 and 29±2 °C, to determine purity and strain concentration every 30 during 180 days. Data were processed using a simple classification analysis of variance. At 40 and 120 days of conservation of the inoculants, Tazumal cultivar were applied to bean seeds and the number of nodules and their effectiveness, the dry mass of nodules, roots and aerial part and the relative content of total chlorophylls were evaluated, in controlled conditions. A completely randomized experimental design was used and the data were processed using a bifactorial arrangement. Rhizobium leguminosarum CF1 strain maintained a concentration of 10⁸ CFU mL^-1 or higher for 150 and 90 days, when Azofert^®-F was stored at 4 and 29±2 °C, respectively. Product storage for 120 days at both temperatures did not affect the number of nodules in bean plants. Nevertheless, temperature and inoculant storage time, influenced the effectiveness of formed nodules and the relative content of total chlorophylls, respectively. This research is the firstone about the conservation influence on the efficacy of a Cuban commercial inoculant based on Rhizobium for beans.