S. Hamza

Short-term incorporation of organic manures and biofertilizers influences biochemical and microbial characteristics of soils under an annual crop [Turmeric (Curcuma longa L.)].

The study was conducted to determine whether short-term incorporation of organic manures and biofertilizers influence biochemical and microbial variables reflecting soil quality. For the study, soils were collected from a field experiment conducted on turmeric (Curcuma longa L.) involving organic nutrient management (ONM), chemical nutrient management (CNM) and integrated nutrient management (INM). The findings revealed that application of organic manures and biofertilizers (ONM and INM) positively influenced microbial biomass C, N mineralization, soil respiration and enzymes activities. Contrarily, greater metabolic quotient levels in CNM indicated a stressed soil microbial community. Principal component analysis indicated the strong relationship between microbial activity and the availability of labile and easily mineralizable organic matter. The findings imply that even short-term incorporation of organic manures and biofertilizers promoted soil microbial and enzyme activities and these parameters are sensitive enough to detect changes in soil quality due to short-term incorporation of biological fertilizers.

Phosphate solubilizing bacteria isolated from the rhizosphere soil and its growth promotion on black pepper (Piper nigrum L.) cuttings

Bacterial isolates from the rhizosphere soil and root cuttings of bush black pepper (Piper nigrum L.) (pepper raised by laterals) exhibiting high phosphate solubilizing ability in-vitro is described in this paper. Microbial phosphorus solubilization (MPS) trait was analyzed by determining the P solubilization efficiency E (E = Diameter of bacterial growth/Diameter of clearing zone×100). The highest P solubilization efficiency was demonstrated by the isolate PB-21 followed by the isolate PB-16: which was identified as Pseudomonas sp. All isolates under study released inorganic phosphate from tricalcium phosphate (TCP) indicating the potential of these strains to release soluble inorganic phosphates from fixed phosphate sources for plant uptake. The isolate PIAR6-2 was able to solubilize 20.01% of P and also fix atmospheric nitrogen, which was later identified as the nitrogen fixing Azospirillum sp. Greenhouse trials using two systems; viz; Soil:Terracare (composted coir pith) and Sand:Soil:FYM with three experimental sets such as rock phosphate (RP as an external P source), PSB isolate in combination with VAM and PSB isolate alone, all against their respective control sets showed very clearly the growth promoting activity of phosphate solubilizing bacteria. Field studies were also carried out using these isolates and some promising results were obtained. Further studies are required to analyze these strains to confirm its plant growth promoting properties. The in-vitro analyses and greenhouse studies of these bacteria reflect their potentiality as efficient P solubilizer in black pepper growing soils.