Application of Bacillus spp. Phosphate-Solubilizing Bacteria Improves Common Bean Production Compared to Conventional Fertilization

The use of phosphate-solubilizing bacteria (PSB) can be a sustainable strategy to increase phosphorus availability and promote satisfactory crop yields. The objective of this study was to evaluate whether inoculation with PSB in common bean increases (i) growth, (ii) nutrition, (iii) yield, and (iv) grain quality, and (v) reduces the chemical phosphorus application dose to obtain maximum yields. The experiment was conducted in an Oxisol using a randomized block design in a 4 × 4 factorial scheme, with four replicates, using the cultivar IAC 2051. The first factor was four doses of P(2)O(5) (0, 20, 40 and 60 kg ha(−1)), and the second factor was four doses of PSB (0, 100, 200 and 300 mL ha(−1)). For leaf area and leaf chlorophyll content, the association of PSB inoculation with a P(2)O(5) dose of 40 kg ha(−1) promoted the best conditions for the common bean. P(2)O(5) application increased yield by 79 kg ha(−1) for each 10 kg ha(−1) added. PSB inoculation at a dose of 192 mL ha(−1) promoted P export of 15.3 kg ha(−1), and the PSB dose of 159 mL ha(−1) increased yield by 389 kg ha(−1) (12%) compared to the control. Grain quality remained within the standards required by the consumer market, being little affected by the treatments. Improvements in common bean growth and nutritional and physiological status promoted by P(2)O(5) application and PSB were essential in increasing yield, so these are sustainable production strategies.