Bacillus altitudinis and Bacillus cereus strains improve soil fertility, nutrient acquisition, biomass production, and yield of wheat grown on calcareous soil

IF 5.2 2区农林科学 Q1 AGRICULTURE, MULTIDISCIPLINARY

Chemical and Biological Technologies in Agriculture Pub Date : 2025-10-14 DOI:10.1186/s40538-025-00854-3

Muhammad Zahid Mumtaz, Rahila Aslam, Lingling Li, Shazmina Ghafoor, Shahbaz Khan, Abbas Muhammad Fahim, Waleed A. A. Alsakkaf, Hayssam M. Ali

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Background

Mineral-dissolving rhizobacteria are considered ecological friendly rhizonutrifying agents capable of promoting rhizospheric enzymatic activities, microbial biomass, and nutrient availability even under nutrient-deficient alkaline soil conditions. However, comprehensive studies on their effectiveness in calcareous soil are lacking. The current study hypothesized that beneficial rhizobacteria improve soil biochemical properties in calcareous soil through their impact on enzymatic activities, microbial biomass, and nutrient availability in the rhizosphere.

Methods

Rhizobacterial strains were isolated from wheat rhizosphere and characterized in vitro for their mineral solubilization potential, production of beneficial metabolites, and various enzymatic activities. A pot experiment was conducted to investigate the effect of sole and co-inoculation treatments on wheat growth, grain attributes, nutrient availability in soil and absorption in plants, soil enzymatic activities, and microbial biomass accumulation in wheat rhizosphere under calcareous soil conditions.

Results

The most effective mineral-dissolving rhizobacteria were identified as Bacillus altitudinis (strains SAM1, SAM7, SAM13, and SAM15) and Bacillus cereus (strain SAM9) through 16S rRNA partial gene sequencing. These strains demonstrated the dissolution of insoluble tricalcium phosphate, mica, zinc oxide, and manganese oxide, and promoted nutrient availability in the soil by producing organic acids. Inoculation enhanced wheat growth and grain development by promoting nutrient acquisition and stimulating rhizospheric microbial activity. Both sole and co-inoculation with rhizobacterial strains significantly increased soil enzymatic activities, microbial biomass carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus, and nutrient availability in the wheat rhizosphere through organic matter decomposition. Among treatments, sole inoculation with B. cereus SAM9 and co-inoculation with B. cereus SAM9 + B. altitudinis SAM13 demonstrated the most dominant increase in wheat growth and grain attributes, nutrient availability in soil and absorption in plants, deposition of microbial biomass, and soil enzymatic activities.

Conclusions

The sole inoculation with B. cereus SAM9 and co-inoculation with B. cereus SAM9 + B. altitudinis SAM13 showed strong potential as bioinoculants for calcareous soils. These strains could be effectively integrated into commercial biofertilizer formulation as sustainable alternatives or supplements to chemical fertilizers, enhancing soil productivity and crop performance.

Graphical Abstract

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高海拔芽孢杆菌和蜡样芽孢杆菌菌株提高土壤肥力、养分获取、生物量生产和小麦产量

矿物溶根细菌被认为是生态友好的根营养剂，即使在营养缺乏的碱性土壤条件下，也能促进根际酶活性、微生物生物量和养分有效性。但目前对其在钙质土壤中的有效性还缺乏全面的研究。目前的研究假设，有益的根细菌通过影响根际酶活性、微生物生物量和养分有效性来改善钙质土壤的生化特性。方法从小麦根际分离得到根瘤菌菌株，并对其矿物质溶解能力、有益代谢产物的产生和各种酶活性进行了体外鉴定。通过盆栽试验，研究了钙质土壤条件下单独接种和共接种处理对小麦生长、籽粒性状、土壤养分有效性和植株养分吸收、土壤酶活性和小麦根际微生物生物量积累的影响。结果通过16S rRNA部分基因测序，鉴定出溶矿效果最好的根瘤菌为高原芽孢杆菌（菌株SAM1、SAM7、SAM13和SAM15）和蜡样芽孢杆菌（菌株SAM9）。这些菌株表现出溶解不溶性磷酸三钙、云母、氧化锌和氧化锰的能力，并通过产生有机酸来促进土壤中的养分有效性。接种通过促进养分获取和刺激根际微生物活性来促进小麦生长和籽粒发育。单独接种和共接种根杆菌菌株均显著提高了土壤酶活性、微生物生物量碳、氮、磷以及小麦根际有机质分解的养分有效性。其中，单纯接种蜡样芽孢杆菌SAM9和同时接种蜡样芽孢杆菌SAM9 + B。SAM13在小麦生长和籽粒性状、土壤养分有效性和植物吸收、微生物生物量沉积和土壤酶活性方面表现出最显著的增加。结论单纯接种蜡样芽孢杆菌SAM9和蜡样芽孢杆菌SAM9 + B共接种。SAM13作为钙质土壤的生物接种剂具有很强的潜力。这些菌株可以有效地整合到商业生物肥料配方中，作为化肥的可持续替代品或补充，提高土壤生产力和作物性能。图形抽象

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来源期刊

Chemical and Biological Technologies in Agriculture Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology-Biotechnology

CiteScore

6.80

自引率

3.00%

发文量

审稿时长

15 weeks

期刊介绍： Chemical and Biological Technologies in Agriculture is an international, interdisciplinary, peer-reviewed forum for the advancement and application to all fields of agriculture of modern chemical, biochemical and molecular technologies. The scope of this journal includes chemical and biochemical processes aimed to increase sustainable agricultural and food production, the evaluation of quality and origin of raw primary products and their transformation into foods and chemicals, as well as environmental monitoring and remediation. Of special interest are the effects of chemical and biochemical technologies, also at the nano and supramolecular scale, on the relationships between soil, plants, microorganisms and their environment, with the help of modern bioinformatics. Another special focus is the use of modern bioorganic and biological chemistry to develop new technologies for plant nutrition and bio-stimulation, advancement of biorefineries from biomasses, safe and traceable food products, carbon storage in soil and plants and restoration of contaminated soils to agriculture. This journal presents the first opportunity to bring together researchers from a wide number of disciplines within the agricultural chemical and biological sciences, from both industry and academia. The principle aim of Chemical and Biological Technologies in Agriculture is to allow the exchange of the most advanced chemical and biochemical knowledge to develop technologies which address one of the most pressing challenges of our times - sustaining a growing world population. Chemical and Biological Technologies in Agriculture publishes original research articles, short letters and invited reviews. Articles from scientists in industry, academia as well as private research institutes, non-governmental and environmental organizations are encouraged.