Bacillus sp. and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi consortia enhance wheat nutrient and yield in the second-year field trial: Superior performance in comparison with chemical fertilizers

Abstract

The aim of the study is to analyse the effect of microbial consortia for wheat biofortification, growth, yield and soil fertility as part of a 2-year field study and compare it with the use of chemical fertilizers. Methods and Results:A field trial (second year) was conducted with various combinations of plant growth-promoting bacteria (PGPB) and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) treatments, ranging from a single inoculant to multiple combinations.The microbial consortia used were Bacillus sp. and AMF based on first-year field trial results. The consortia based on native (CP4) and non-native (AHP3) PGPB (Bacillus sp.) and AMF performed better in terms of nutrients content in wheat grain tissue and yield-related traits compared with chemical fertilizer treated and untreated control. Dual treatment of PGPB (CP4+AHP3) combined with AMF resulted in a significant increase in antioxidants. The spatial colonization of AMF in roots indicated that both the isolates CP4 and AHP3 were able to enhance the AMF colonization in root tissue. Furthermore, soil enzymes' activities were higher with the PGPB and AMF combination giving the best results. A positive correlation was recorded between plant growth, grain yield and soil physicochemical parameters. Conclusions:Our findings confirm that the combined treatment of CP4 and AHP3 and AMF functions as an effective microbial consortium with excellent application prospects for wheat biofortification, grain yield and soil fertility compared with chemical fertilizers. Significance and Impact of Study:The extensive application of chemical fertilizers on low-yielding field sites is a severe concern for cereal crops, especially wheat in the Asian continent. This study serves as a primer for implementing site-specific sustainable agricultural-management practices using a green technology leading to significant gains in agriculture.

Phenology, Crop Stand, and Dry Matter Production of Wheat in Response to Beneficial Microbes and Organic Matter Sources

“…The higher levels of EM increased the mineralization of OM (Anjum and Khan, 2021) and the synthesis of amino acids and protein (Iriti et al, 2019), which in turn increased the crop growth and leaf area (Talaat et al, 2015). The release of phytohormones and growth regulators by EM makes the soil environment favorable for root growth, improving nutrients' uptake (Chen et al, 2018;Yadav et al, 2022), which in turn increasing the net photosynthesis and leaf expansion (Iriti et al, 2019), assimilating formation (Akhtar et al, 2019b) and, consequently, increasing the aboveground biomass production.…”

Biocontrol and plant growth promotion by combined Bacillus spp. inoculation affecting pathogen and AMF communities in the wheat rhizosphere at low salt stress conditions

“…In this study, AMF strains did not exhibit a complex symbiotic network (Figure 7B), indicating that AMF may strongly affect wheat. Current studies have confirmed that the combination of PGPR and AMF can exert greater growth-promoting characteristics to stimulate plant growth, which is better than inorganic fertilizer (Yadav et al, 2020;Yadav et al, 2021). Therefore, because of the universality of AMF and its potential impact on plant nutrient uptake and growth, it is crucial to verify the effect of biocontrol agents on AMF communities in the field.…”

“…In this study, the grain number and yield of wheat in the BIO group were significantly higher than those in the CK group ( Table 3 ). The main reason may be increased rhizosphere soil nutrients ( Yadav et al., 2021 ). Concurrently, PGPR and AMF synergistically increase nutrient absorption, enhance photosynthesis, optimize rhizosphere bacteria, and improve soil health.…”

Effect of arbuscular mycorrhizae (AM) inoculation on growth performance and bioactive compound production by Andrographis paniculata (Burm.f.) Nees

“…The results of antimicrobial activity of methanolic extracts from control and AM treated A. paniculata plants are shown in et al, (2011) who proved increase in protein content in wheat grains of AMF inoculated plants (Yadav et al, 2022). Tobacco plants inoculated with AM, alone or in combination with organic amendment, increased plant dry weights and improved phosphorous nutrition considerably (Manoharan et al, 2010).…”