Rhizobium and phosphate solubilizing bacteria improve the yield and phosphorus uptake in wheat (Triticum aestivum).

Abstract

Rhizobium and phosphorus (P) solubilizing bacteria are important to plant nutrition. These microbes also play a significant role as plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) in the biofertilization of crops. A study was conducted in order to investigate the effects of a rhizobial strain (Thal 8) and a P solubilizer strain (54RB) in single and dual combination with and without P2O5 on wheat in a P deficient natural non-sterilized sandy loam soil. The results of this pot experiment revealed that single and dual inoculation with fertilizer (P2O5) significantly increased root and shoot weight, plant height, spike length, grain yield, seed P content, leaf protein and leaf sugar content of the test crop. It is concluded that single and dual inoculation along with P fertilizer is 30-40% better than only P fertilizer for improving grain yield of wheat and dual inoculation without fertilizer (P) improved grain yield up to 20% as compared to P application.