Assessment of two carrier materials for phosphate solubilizing biofertilizers and their effect on growth of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)

Abstract

Biofertilizers are usually carrier-based inoculants containing beneficial microorganisms. Incorporation of microorganisms in carrier material enables easy-handling, long-term storage and high effectiveness of biofertilizers. Objective of the present study was to assess enriched biogas sludge and soil as biofertilizer carriers on growth and yield of wheat. Six phosphate solubilizing strains were used in this study. Three phosphate solubilizing strains, 77-NS2 (Bacillus endophyticus), 77-CS-S1 (Bacillus sphaericus) and 77-NS5 (Enterobacter aerogenes) were isolated from the rhizosphere of sugarcane, two strains, PSB5 (Bacillus safensis) and PSB12 (Bacillus megaterium) from the rhizosphere of wheat and one halophilic phosphate solubilizing strain AT2RP3 (Virgibacillus sp.) from the rhizosphere of Atriplex amnicola, were used as bioinoculants. Phosphate solubilization ability of these strains was checked in vitro in Pikovskaya medium, containing rock phosphate (RP) as insoluble P source, individually supplemented with three different carbon sources, i.e., glucose, sucrose and maltose. Maximum phosphate solubilization; 305.6μg/ml, 217.2μg/ml and 148.1μg/ml was observed in Bacillus strain PSB12 in Pikovskaya medium containing sucrose, maltose and glucose respectively. A field experiment and pot experiments in climate control room were conducted to study the effects of biogas sludge and enriched soil based phosphorous biofertilizers on growth of wheat. Bacillus strain PSB12 significantly increased root and shoot dry weights and lengths using biogas sludge as carrier material in climate control room experiments. While in field conditions, significant increase in root and shoot dry weights, lengths and seed weights was seen by PSB12 and PSB5 (Bacillus) and Enterobacter strain 77-NS5 using biogas sludge as carrier. PSB12 also significantly increased both root and shoot dry weights and lengths in field conditions when used as enriched soil based inoculum. These results indicated that bacterial isolates having plant beneficial traits such as P solubilization are more promising candidates as biofertilizer when used with carrier materials.

Pseudomonas fluorescens affects nutrient dynamics in plant-soil system for melon production

“…The pH, TOC, CEC, and texture values, which ranged from 7.9 to 8.0, 1.1%, and 13.2 to 13.7 meq 100 g -1 , respectively, were similar during the experiment and were not affected by the biocontroller application. These results are similar to those reported by Mukhtar et al (2017), who found no differences in pH and texture after applying phosphate-solubilizing biofertilizer to a wheat crop. In contrast, Singh and Reddy (2012) reported an increase in soil organic C in bio-inoculated soil compared with the control.…”

The Status of Soil Microbiome as Affected by the Application of Phosphorus Biofertilizer: Fertilizer Enriched with Beneficial Bacterial Strains

“…Rhizosum PK ® is a biofertilizer containing i.a. Bacillus megaterium and Frateuria aurantia which were found to exhibit potassium-mobilizing properties [49][50][51]. A study conducted by Mengual et al [52] showed that the introduction of microbial inoculants to the soil positively the affected activities of urease, protease and β-glucosidase with significant changes occurring in the case of urease and protease.…”

Isolation and characterization of bacteria associated with the rhizosphere of halophytes (Salsola stocksii and Atriplex amnicola) for production of hydrolytic enzymes

“…Members of the genus Staphylococcus (S. equorum, S. haemolyticus, and S. saprophyticus) were identified from the rhizosphere of Salsola and Atriplex and lake-bank soils. They are moderately halophilic strains and play an important role in plant growth and biodegradation of hemicelluloses and lipases [43,44]. Bacterial isolates related to Kocuria and Streptomyces were identified from the rhizosphere of halophytes as well as from the non-rhizospheric soils.…”