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Under scarce iron conditions, several bacteria, fungi and plants, secrete ferric iron-specific ligands, generically termed as siderophores that are able to bind with insoluble ferric ion thereby making them available to the host organisms. Siderophore producing bacteria was isolated from the rhizospheric soil of Eragrostis cynosuroides by CAS agar screening and CAS-shuttle assay method. Among five positive isolates, DR2 produced a relatively high level of siderophore (69.81 SU%) and was identified as catecholate type. Further, it was identified as Bacillus subtilis DR2 (KP455653) based on 16S rRNA gene sequencing and phylogenetic analysis. Media optimization revealed that the strain B. subtilis DR2 showed maximum siderophore yield (80.60 SU%) under optimized condition of 72 h incubation at 35 °C in succinate media at pH 8, supplemented with sucrose as carbon and NaNO3 as nitrogen sources. It was further tested as seed inoculants under pot culture conditions and was found to be very efficient in seed germination and growth promotion of Coriandrum sativum. Thus, the present study signifies that B. subtilis DR2 may be a promising candidate with potential of plant growth promotion to be used as biofertilizer for various crops.

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An experiment was conducted to study the “Effect of decomposed crushed seeds, oil cakes and deoiled cakes of neem on maize (Zea mays)” under the greenhouse condition. The three forms of neem cakes were subjected to decomposition for a period of 30, 60 and 90 days in a plastic containers of capacity five kg. The chemical composition of deoiled cake was 4.51 % N, 0.79 % P, 1.40 % K, 57 ppm Zn, 640 ppm Fe, 1.40 ppm Ca and oil content 1.09 % while in oil cake and crushed seeds 4.21 and 3.99 % N, 0.71 and 0.64 % P, 1.30 and 1.10 % K, 49 and 43 ppm Zn, 630 and 633 ppm Fe, 1.40 and 1.30 ppm Ca and oil content 10.27 and 22.53 % respectively. The Plant height, root length, fresh weight, dry weight and chlorophyll (SPAD) has increased by increasing number of days of decomposition and the significant increase  was observed in deoiled cake at 90 days of decomposition as compare to oil cake and crushed seeds at 30, 60 and 90 days of decomposition.

The Arboretum UAS GKVK (Bengaluru) was established in the year 1987 by the Department of Forestry with the main goal to establish a social forest and the best use of wasteland. Introduction of species involves adaptation, productivity and success in new types of environmental conditions but these there tree species are indigenous to India and they are more vigorous in adaptation in general, each plant species has specific requirements for the soil-ecological environment. If plants are to grow to their potential, they must be provided by a satisfactory soil environment. On the other hand, inappropriate conditions may limit or