Response of peanut to foliar application of molybdenum and seed inoculation with Bradyrhizobium spp. in Cerrado region, Brazil

The adoption of sustainable technologies that optimize biological nitrogen fixation (BNF) by peanut crops is essential to improve plant growth and ensure high grain yield potential. A study was conducted to investigate the efficiency of inoculation with Bradyrhizobium spp. and foliar application of molybdenum (Mo) in improving the productive response of peanut crop (Arachis hypogaea L., cv. IAC Tatu ST) in moderately acidic sandy soil (pH 5.0) of the Cerrado region, Brazil during two growing seasons (2016/2017 and 2017/2018). Treatments consisted of uninoculated seeds (control) and inoculated with Bradyrhizobium spp. and foliar application of Mo at five rates (0, 25, 50, 100, and 150 g Mo ha(-1)). These treatments were arranged in a randomized block design in split plots with four replicates. Nodulation, shoot dry matter, leaf N concentration, and peanut grain yield were significantly high in plants inoculated with Bradyrhizobium spp. in both growing seasons. The grain yield increased by 13% and 12% with the inoculation of Bradyrhizobium spp. compared with non-inoculated plants in the 2016/2017 and 2017/2018 seasons, respectively. Plants fertilized with Mo showed higher root nodulation, leaf N concentration, and shoot dry matter production than control plants in both growing seasons. However, the crop grain yield was significantly high (24%) only in the 2016/2017 season in plants fertilized with Mo. The optimal rate of foliar Mo application in peanut plants cultivated in sandy soils varies from 80 to 100 g of Mo ha(-1). Due to improved root nodulation, N uptake, plant growth, and higher crop grain yield, rhizobium inoculation and foliar application of Mo are sustainable agricultural practices that should be recommended for peanut growers.