Characterization of Effective Microorganism (Phosphate Solubilizing Bacteria) Isolated from Rice-Field Soils

Abstract

Phosphate solubilizing bacteria (PSB) is included in one of the effective organisms for plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) and considered as promising biofertilizers. This study is focused on identifying with inoculations PSB will give effects to the solubilization of phosphorus in soil and become available for plant uptake. To address this, four treatments are set up which are Merlimau soil (T0), Merlimau soil with Phosphate Solubilizing Bacteria (PSB) (T1), Tanjong Karang soil (T2), and Tanjong Karang soil with PSB (T3). Available P for the treatments and the value of soil pH is being taken as the parameter. Besides, the growth performance of rice plants was also recorded with the measurement of plant height, the number of tillers, and the number of leaves on weekly for five weeks. The soil analysis for available P and the soil pH was found to have a significant increase when treated with PSB as shown for the results of T1 and T3. The plant analysis for the growth performance of rice plants also shows that better growth of plants for the soils that have been treated with PSB. Thus, the application of PSB to the rice-field soil can increase P availability and reduce the acidity of the soil. In addition, it gives effect to the performance of the rice growth where this study shows results in increasing plant height, higher development of tillers, and plant leaves compared to the soils that do not treated with PSB.