Masters Theses

Date of Award

5-2025

Degree Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science

Major

Plant Sciences

Major Professor

Renata N. Oakes

Committee Members

Bruno C. Pedreira, David M. Butler, Sandra L. Dillard

Abstract

Greater demands for beef has been observed over the years; however, concerns related to its production efficiency and sustainability have been raised. To achieve desired production levels with less harm to the environment, newer technologies have been studied and adopted around the world. For the southeastern United States, bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers) is an important and predominant warm-season forage, highly responsive to nitrogen (N) fertilization. Nevertheless, higher N use has raised concerns regarding N leaching and greenhouse gas emissions, contaminating groundwater and damaging the atmosphere. Alternative strategies to enhance plant growth have been developed, such as various plant growth-promoting bacteria (PGPB), which have been adopted due to their beneficial characteristics associated with forage plants. Among PGPBs, Azospirillum spp., Bacillus spp., and Paenibacillus spp., have demonstrated beneficial interaction modulating phytohormones, fixing N, and solubilizing nutrients in the soil with the Poaceae family. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate the inclusion of Azospirillum Ab-V5 and Ab-V6, Bacillus subtilis, Paenibacillus riograndensis, and Methylobacterium symbioticum either in field or greenhouse conditions with or without varying N management strategies. Findings from this research may contribute to climate-smart agricultural practices, improving forage systems’ sustainability while mitigating environmental impacts. The integration of PGPB in bermudagrass forage systems could serve as an alternative approach to increasing the system’s efficiency, reducing inputs, and supporting long-term productivity in forage-based livestock systems.

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