Halophyte root powder: an alternative biofertilizer and carrier for saline land

Abstract

The present investigation was based on the hypothesis that the endophytes residing in the roots of halophytes have better adaptation to saline conditions. Six halophytic herbs were collected from Khewra salt range (EC = 4.7 dS m −1 and SAR = 25.7). From these herbs, root pieces of Cenchrus ciliaris were shade dried; finely ground to powder and three plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR), Bacillus cereus, Pseudomonad moraviensis, and Stenotrophomonas maltophilia, were isolated. Root powder in sterilized and unsterilized forms was added in the saline-sodic field on wheat and mixed with soil in pot experiment with induced NaCl (150 mM). Sterilized root powder increased organic matter NO 3 -N and P contents of soil and leaves, fresh weight, sugar content, and yield attributes. The root powder application in unsterilized form significantly decreased EC, SAR, and Na content of field soil with concomitant increase in soil and leaves K, P, and NO 3 -N. The farmer's benefit was increased by 33% at yield. Root powder-induced salt tolerance was mediated by the PGPR (residing inside the root) through increased growth and better physiological adaptations. It is inferred that root powder harboring the PGPR may be an alternative to biofertilizer with longer shelf life and may also serve as carrier for the preparation of effective biofertilizer for saline land using other PGPR bio-inoculants.

Halo-tolerant plant growth promoting rhizobacteria for improving productivity and remediation of saline soils

“…Revival of arid and saline soil by utlizing salt-tolerant rhizobia can help in improving the fertility and productivity of these stressed agro-ecosystems [133] . Hassan et al [134] utilized root powder of a halophyte Cenchrus ciliaris as carrier to develop inoculant from HT-PGPR Bacillus cereus, Pseudomonas moraviensis, and Stenotrophomonas maltophilia . The developed bioinoculant when applied in field improved growth of wheat and simultaneously resulted in better texture, EC, pH and organic matter of saline-sodic soil.…”

Understanding the potential of root microbiome influencing salt‐tolerance in plants and mechanisms involved at the transcriptional and translational level

“…T. arenarium and T. asperelloides for sustainable agriculture in saline environments as biofertilizers and biofungicides owing to their growth‐promoting attributes and antagonistic activity against phytopathogens, respectively. Apart from this, root powder of a halophyte— Cenchrus ciliaris was reported to be directly used as a biofertilizer and the application of the same to wheat plants under salinity stress was found to effectively decrease the electrical conductivity, sodium absorption ratio and simultaneously increase the K + content, phosphorous, and nitrate content of the rhizosphere soil (Hassan et al, 2018). Moreover, the presence of three PGPR, namely, B. cereus, P. moraviensis and Stenotrophomonas maltophilia naturally associated with the halophyte as root endophytes significantly improved the growth and yield parameters of the wheat plants (Hassan et al, 2018).…”

“…Apart from this, root powder of a halophyte— Cenchrus ciliaris was reported to be directly used as a biofertilizer and the application of the same to wheat plants under salinity stress was found to effectively decrease the electrical conductivity, sodium absorption ratio and simultaneously increase the K + content, phosphorous, and nitrate content of the rhizosphere soil (Hassan et al, 2018). Moreover, the presence of three PGPR, namely, B. cereus, P. moraviensis and Stenotrophomonas maltophilia naturally associated with the halophyte as root endophytes significantly improved the growth and yield parameters of the wheat plants (Hassan et al, 2018). Also, the combined application of nanomaterials and bioinoculants, for instance, bacterial strains, viz.…”

Setting a Plausible Route for Saline Soil-Based Crop Cultivations by Application of Beneficial Halophyte-Associated Bacteria: A Review

“…Table 1 depicts the different types of HT-PGPB isolated from diverse halophytes with proven multiple beneficial traits that can act on inoculated glycophytic crops. Likewise, Hassan et al utilized grounded dried root powder of multiple coastal halophytes as carriers of localized endophytic HT-PGPB and reported success in improving wheat growth under salinized conditions [ 59 ].…”