Bacterial strains decrease solubility of potassium in the soil / Estirpes bacterianas reduzem potencial de solubilização de potássio no solo

This study aimed to verify whether inoculation with strains of diazotrophic bacteria, with proven ability to solubilize potassium (K) in vitro, contributes towards the release of K in the soil after fertilization with phonolite rock powder. The experiment was conducted in containers with 0.3 dm-3 of soil containing low potassium content. Fifteen treatments were used, namely, 12 inoculated with the bacterial strains, a control treatment (without phonolite and without inoculation), one containing phonolite without inoculation and one containing KCl, soluble fertilizer, without inoculation. In treatments with phonolite and KCl, the doses of these materials were applied to provide the soil with 195 mg dm-3 of K. A completely randomized design with four replications was used. The soil was incubated during 90 days at room temperature and humidity at about 70% retention capacity. After this period, the content of K+ (Mehlich and resin), pH value and potential acidity (H+Al) were evaluated. Phonolite, associated with inoculation with most bacterial strains, increased the availability of potassium in the soil, pH rate and reduced potential acidity. Among the strains tested, UNIFENAS 100-01, UNIFENAS 100-16, UNIFENAS 100-27, UNIFENAS 100-39 and UNIFENAS 100-93 were the most efficient for the solubilization of K+ of the phonolite. In spite of the observed results, K content released by the bacterial strains in the soil decreased when compared to in vitroconditions, thus justifying the need for studies on bio-solubilization of soil to select the most efficient strains in the process.

O objetivo desse estudo foi avaliar se a inoculação com estirpes de bactérias diazotróficas de comprovada capacidade de solubilizar potássio (K) in vitro, contribui para a liberação de K no solo, após adubação com o pó da rocha fonolito. O experimento foi conduzido em recipientes contendo 0,3 dm-3 de solo contendo baixo teor de potássio. Foram utilizados 15 tratamentos, sendo: 12 com fonolito inoculados com as estirpes bacterianas e 3 tratamentos controle, um sem fonolito e sem inoculação, um contendo fonolito sem inoculação e um contendo KCl, fertilizante solúvel, sem inoculação. Nos tratamentos contendo fonolito e KCl, foi aplicada doses desses materiais para fornecer ao solo 195 mg dm-3 de K. Foi utilizado delineamento inteiramente casualizado com quatro repetições. O solo foi incubado por 90 dias, em temperatura ambiente e a umidade foi mantida a cerca de 70% da capacidade de retenção. Após esse período, foram avaliados o teor de K+ (Mehlich e resina), valor de pH e da acidez potencial (H+Al). A utilização do fonolito, associado a inoculação com a maioria das estirpes bacterianas contribuiu para aumentar a disponibilidade de potássio no solo, o valor de pH e reduzir a acidez potencial. Dentre as estirpes testadas, destacaram-se UNIFENAS 100-01, UNIFENAS 100-16, UNIFENAS 100-27, UNIFENAS 100-39 e UNIFENAS 100-93, que foram as mais eficientes para a solubilização do K+ do fonolito. Apesar dos resultados observados, verificou-se que o teor de K liberado pelas estirpes bacterianas no solo foi reduzido quando comparado às condições in vitro, justificando assim, a necessidade de estudos de biossolubilização no solo visando selecionar as estirpes mais eficientes para desempenhar o processo

Characteristics and Mechanisms of Biosolubilization of Rock Phosphate by Aspergillus japonicus

ABSTRACT Rock phosphate (RP) is traditionally solubilized by chemical process causing high cost and environmental pollution. To reduce process cost and protect environment, RP solubilization by Aspergillus japonicus was studied and its mechanisms were discussed. Results show that A. japonicus could effectively solubilize RP in NBRIP medium. RP solubilization by A. japonicus included direct and indirect actions of the strain on RP. Cells of A. japonicus attached rapidly to RP surface and the RP surface was seriously corroded by the strain. A. japonicus excreted multiple organic acids, and followed by a significant increase of titratable acidity and decrease of pH in the culture. A positive correlation between content of soluble phosphate and quantity of titratable acidity but a negative correlation between content of soluble phosphate and pH were observed. Results of abiotic solubilization of RP using organic and inorganic acids indicated that the release of soluble phosphate was significantly lower than that of inoculated with A. japonicus. Higher release of soluble phosphate and pH reduction achieved when using ammonium nitrogen rather than nitrate nitrogen.

Release of potassium from rock powder by the yeast Torulaspora globosa

The alteration of minerals in rocks and the availability of elements for plant nutrition require long periods of time, and microorganisms are thought to induce the release of potassium and phosphate from rocks. In this context, this work evaluates the role of the yeast Torulaspora globosa, isolated from the sugar cane rhizosphere, in the solubilization of potassium from alkaline ultramafic rock powder. The experiments were performed in liquid medium, with or without agitation, at 30°C with the following treatments: culture medium + alkaline ultramafic; culture medium + yeast suspension; and culture medium + yeast suspension + alkaline ultramafic. The results showed that as much as 38% of the total potassium in the rock was released in the medium with the yeast during a 15-day period of incubation. Acid production may be the mechanism by which the yeast solubilizes potassium because the total acidity increased during the sampling period. Agitation (which increased oxygen availability) resulted in approximately 20% more biosolubilization of the alkaline ultramafic rock than with the static culture. These data indicate the potential for this yeast in biosolubilization processes and biofertilizer production.

Characterization of Some Agricultural Soils: Presence and Activity of Tilemsi Rock Phosphate-Solubilizing Thiobacilli.

The bacteria Thiobacillus thioparus, Thiobacillus thiooxidans and Thiobacillus ferooxidans are known to be able to oxidize elemental sulfur in soils and influence phosphorus solubilization. These bacteria can solubilize the phosphorus of apatite rock by producing sulfuric acid from the oxidation of elemental sulfur and some sulphide. We think that the capacity of these bacteria can be exploited to set up a biophosphate from Tilemsi natural rock phosphate exploited in Mali. This work aims to identify, isolate and characterize Tilemsi rock phosphate (TRP) solubilizing Thiobacillus strains in various agricultural soils. Obtained results showed that the analyzed soils are poor in Thiobacillus and that the quantity of acid produced and TRP solubilized is directly proportional to the growth of these bacteria.