Isolation and characterization of potential P- solubilizer rhizobacteria from rhizosphere of wheat (Tritium aestivum) from lower Himalayan zone of Himachal Pradesh ​

Abstract

Inorganic fertilizer is an essential component of the modern agricultural system. The overuse of fertilizer brought serious problems to the present and future generations like polluted air, water, soil, degraded lands, depleted soils and increased emissions of greenhouse gases. The excessive use of chemical fertilizers from the last decade in the agricultural system of India showed harmful effects on soil structure, soil microbial diversity, soil texture and water holding capacity of soil. Therefore, the present investigation was an attempt to isolate and identify the most potent PGPR and to check their efficacy for P- solubilization. In total,48 bacterial isolates were isolated from three different sites of Hamirpur district. The total rhizobacterial population on nutrient agar medium harboured the maximum (250x105 CFU/g soil) microbial population at Deotsidh. However, population of PGPR isolates on Pikovskaya’s agar was found highest at site Deotsidh (220x105 CFU/g soil). In case of Jensen’s medium, maximum rhizobacterial populations were found highest at site Deotsidh (200x105 CFU/g soil). In the case of King’s B agar, maximum rhizobacterial population was found at site Deotsidh (230x105 CFU/g soil). Among 48 isolates, 37 isolates were found positive for P-solubilization.