Abstract
Objective: The inoculants, mainly nitrogen fixers and phosphate solubilizing microbes, have an influence on plant growth attributes. The current study was conducted to assess the fertilizing activity of A. chroocaccum and B. megaterium strains on growth, yield parameters and nutrient uptake of Sorghum bicolor.
Methods: The isolation and identification of the nitrogen-fixing bacterium- A. chroocaccum and phosphate solubilizing microbe- B. megaterium and the growth and yield parameters of Sorghum bicolor as well as NPK uptake levels were studied.
Results: A. chroocaccum and B. megaterium exhibited the proliferation of microbial population in soil by synergistic interaction with plants, and the application increased the availability of NPK in the soil after harvest of the crop. These beneficial inoculants are also known to help in the uptake of some other nutrients. The maximum beneficial aspects of the plant were noticed in the plants inoculated with 100% Recommended Dose of Fertilizer (RDF)+ A. chroocaccum+ B. megaterium, and the least was noticed in the control plants at all growth stages and at the time of harvest.
Conclusion: From this study, it can be concluded that the beneficial effect of A. chroocaccum and B. megaterium is observed in sorghum crop with improved yield and nutrient uptake. Therefore, this species can be used extensively for future inoculation of the sorghum crop for better growth and development and for good returns in an ecological way.
Keywords: A. chroocaccum, B. megaterium, bio-fertilizer, sorghum, compatability, NPK.
Graphical Abstract
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1099/00207713-31-2-215]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0378-4290(02)00172-7]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00253-009-2196-0] [PMID: 19707753]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/srep42737] [PMID: 28218268]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.3923/jps.2007.326.333]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0378-4290(02)00172-7]