SYNERGISTIC EFFECTS FROM COMBINING FOLIAR AND SOIL INOCULATION OF PLANT GROWTH PROMOTING MICROBES: ENHANCED SUGARCANE PHYSIOLOGY AND RHIZOSPHERE MODULATION VIA ORGANIC ACID EXUDATION AND NITROGEN - CYCLING

Sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum L.) is a strategic crop for the energy sector, but its intensive cultivation requires sustainable management practices. Plant growth-promoting bacteria (PGPB) such as Azospirillum brasilense and Nitrospirillum amazonense are known for their ability to fix atmospheric nitrogen and stimulate growth in grasses. This study evaluated the effects of inoculation with A. brasilense (Ab) and N. amazonense (Na), applied individually or in combination (Ab+Na), on sugarcane physiology, nitrogen use efficiency, root exudation, and rhizospheric microbial communities. The experiment was conducted under controlled greenhouse conditions with four treatments: Control (no inoculation), Ab, Na, and Ab+Na.