Performance of Egyptian Native Phosphate Solubilizing Bacteria for Improving Growth and Phosphorus Uptake of Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) Grown in a Calcareous Soil

Abstract

A study was carried out to evaluate the potential of three isolated Egyptian native phosphate solubilizing bacteria (PSB) exhibiting phosphate-dissolution ability and indole acetic acid (IAA) production to test whether these bacteria are capable of increasing the available P in a calcareous soil treated with single superphosphate (SSP) and its uptake by wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) variety Gemiza-11. Therefore, a pot experiment trial using a calcareaous soil was conducted at the experimental farm of Arid Lands Cultivation Research Institute -City of Scientific Research and Technological Applications. The inoculated and uninoculated wheat seeds were sown on 1 st , December, 2015 for 60 days. The isolates were Enterobacter aerogenes, Pantoea sp., Enterobacter sp., and their mixture in the ratio (1:1:1) were tested in combination with four levels of SSP (0%, 50%, 75% and 100% of recommended dose for wheat (150 kg/Fed.). Each treatment was set up in triplicate in a randomized complete block design. Phosphorus application or phosphorus solubilizing bacterial inoculation and their interaction significantly affected the plant dry weight, available P in soil and P uptake. Co-inoculation of these PSB strains (mixed culture) could act synergistically and were responsible for the increase in plant growth, P uptake and available P in soil in comparison with single inoculation. Accordingly, we can reduce SSP application to 75% of recommended dosage + inoculation with mixed culture of these PSB with significant promotion of wheat growth more than application of 100% SSP of recommended dosage without PSB inoculation to save chemical fertilizer application and maintain environment and soil health.