Increasing Forage Yields through Application of Plant Growth Promoting Rhizobacteria (PGPR)

Abstract

In the last decade, the use of microbial activity has become increasingly widespread with the knowledge of the negative impact of providing inorganic fertilizer inputs on the cultivation of feed crops. A study was carried out to examine the effect of PGPR application from various host plants on increasing the yield of forage Asystasia gangetica (L.) subsp. Micrantha. The research was a pot experiment designed with a completely randomized design (CRD). The research began with identifying PGPR causes from various host plants, then applied to A. gangetica. The variables observed in this study were: the presence and population of PGPR on PGPR leader of Bambusa vulgaris Schrad, Mimosa pudica, Paspalum notatum and Eleusin indica grass plants, growth and yield of A. gangetica forage plants. The results showed that the highest number of non-symbiotic bacteria was found in PGPR from host plant roots E. indica as much as 1.1x106 cfu/ml, while the highest number of symbiotic bacteria was found in M. pudica host plant roots. The most TPC was found in the roots of the host E. indica as much as 6.4x105 cfu/ml, while the highest P bacteria were found in the roots of the host plants E. indica and M. pudica each with 3.4x105 cfu/ml. It was concluded that the highest forage yield of A. gangetica was obtained from the application of PGPR seeds E. indica and M. pudica respectively at 21.52 and 21.06 g plant-1.