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Research article2020Peer reviewedOpen access

Impact Assessment of Plant Growth Promoting Rhizobacteria on Growth and Nutrient Uptake of Maize (Zea mays)

Ahmed, A.; Sultan, T.; Qadir, G.; Afzal, O.; Ahmed, M.; Shah, S.U.S.; Asif, M.; Ali, S.; Mehmood, M.Z.

Abstract

Plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) promote crop growth and seed yield. However, in farm management practices genotype and environmental conditions may also affect the growth and nutrient uptake. PGPR and phosphate solubilizing bacteria (PSB) in combination with synthetic fertilizers can enhance crop productivity and soil fertility. Present experiment aimed to investigate the effect of PGPR and PSB inoculation with T1 Control (Recommended NP), T2 (PGPR-1 + PSB + ¾ N + ¾ P),T3 (PGPR-2 +PSB +¾ N + ¾ P), T4 (PGPR-3 + PSB + ¾ N + ¾ P), T5 (PGPR-4 + PSB + ¾ N + ¾ P), T6 (PGPR-5 + PSB + ¾ N + ¾ P), T7 (PGPR-1, 2, 3, 4, 5 + PSB + ¾ N + ¾ P).The inoculation of PGPR + PSB at 75% (T5 and T7) significantly increased chlorophyll content, no. of leaves, plant height, ear leaf area, ear inter nodes girth, flag leaf area over T1 in pot experiment. Similarly, the inoculation of PGPR + PSB with T2 and in combination with T1 also at 75% of recommended NP significantly increased chlorophyll content, no. of leaves, plant height, ear leaf area, ear inter nodes girth, flag leaf area over control in the field experiment. Inclusion of PGPR and PSB significantly increase grain and straw P contents as well as positively enhance soil nitrogen and phosphorus compared to T1 treatment. Present results implied that PGPR and PSB inoculation is a plausible strategy for increasing the nutrient availability to maize, and therefore an important tool to increase maize production under prevailing conditions.

Keywords

Development; Growth; Maize; Nutrient Uptake; PGPR

Published in

Pakistan journal of agricultural research
2020, volume: 33, number: 2, pages: 234-246
Publisher: ResearchersLinks Ltd

SLU Authors

  • Ahmed, Mukhtar

    • Department of Agricultural Research for Northern Sweden, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences

UKÄ Subject classification

Agricultural Science

Publication identifier

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.17582/journal.pjar/2020/33.2.234.246

Permanent link to this page (URI)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/133097