Bioformulation Containing Cohorts of Ensifer adhaerens MSN12 and Bacillus cereus MEN8 for the Nutrient Enhancement of Cicer arietinum L.

Here we examine the effects of different carrier based bioinoculants on the growth, yield and nutritional value of chickpea and on associated soil nutrients. A consortium of two taxonomically distinct endophytic bacteria-Ensifer adhaerens MSN12 and Bacillus cereus MEN8-have promising plant growth promoting (PGP) attributes. We demonstrate their delivery from the laboratory to the field via the formulation of an effective bioinoculant with economic and accessible carriers. Sugarcane straw ash (SCSA) was found to be an efficient carrier and bioformulation for enhancing viability and shelf-life of strains up to 12 months. A bioformulation containing an SCSA-based consortium (MSN12 + MEN8) increased seed germination by 7%, plant weight by 29%, length by 17%, seed-yield by 12%, harvesting index by 14% and proximate nutritional constituents by 20% over consortium treatment without SCSA. In addition, the bioformulation of post-harvest treated soil improved the physico-chemical properties of the soil in comparison to a pre-sowing SCSA-based bioformulation treated crop, being fortified in different proximate nutritional constituents including dry matter (30%), crude protein (45%), crude fiber (35%), and ether extract (40%) in comparison to the control. Principal component analysis and scattered matrix plots showed a positive correlation among the treatments, which also validates improvement in the soil nutrient components and proximate constituents by T6 treatment (MSN12 + MEN8 + SCSA). The above results suggest efficiency of SCSA not only as a carrier material but also to support microbial growth for adequate delivery of lab strains as a substitute for chemi-fertilizers.

Appraisal of biofilm forming bacteria in developing buffalo dung-based bioformulation coupled to promote yield of Foeniculum vulgare Mill.

Chemical fertilizers impart deleterious effects on crop productivity and its nutrients which is a serious concern among agriculturist. Current research focuses on the commercial preparation of an eco-friendly and cost-effective bioformulation using buffalo dung slurry and beneficial plant growth-promoting (PGP) and biofilm forming strains. 40 strains were isolated from buffalo dung showing PGP activities. Among them, 03 strains were further selected to sequence by 16S rRNA technology and identified as Pseudomonas aeruginosa BUFF12, Proteus mirabilis BUFF14, Enterobacter xiangfangensis BUFF38. The strains were used for consortium preparation on the basis of increase in PGP activity. The consortium of strains increases in vitro PGP attributes at different percentage, i.e., 22% increase in IAA production, 10% increase in siderophore production, 5% increase in P- solubilization, 8% increase in K- solubilization, and 11% increase in S-oxidation. Three carrier materials, i.e., molasses of sugarcane, rice gruel, and buffalo dung slurry, were chosen to conduct the study. Among them, dung slurry proved to be an effective supportive material on the basis of their physico-chemical analysis and viability of strains for long-term storage. It maintained the population mixture of strains (9.4 × 108 cfu/ml) for 120 DAI followed by molasses (9.1 × 108 cfu/ml) and rice gruel (7.9 × 108 cfu/ml). These beneficial strains were further applied in field for crop productivity and slurry-based formulation with mixture of strains exhibited incredible plant growth after definite interval of time. Chemotactic activity proved these strains as strong root colonizers which was confirmed by Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FE-SEM). This research disseminates a successful technology to develop an eco-friendly bioformulation of buffalo dung slurry augmenting the crop growth in an eco-friendly manner leading to sustainable agriculture.

Buffalo dung-inhabiting bacteria enhance the nutrient enrichment of soil and proximate contents of Foeniculum vulgare Mill.

The present study was aimed to study the effect of bacteria inhabiting in buffalo dung on nutritional properties of soil and plant. Three beneficial bacteria Proteus mirabilis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Enterobacter xiangfangensis were isolated from buffalo dung to evaluate for their effects individually as well as in consortium. The combined effect of P. mirabilis and P. aeruginosa showed a significant enhancement in different biological parameters of Foeniculum vulgare such as primary branch (99.32%), secondary branch (98.32%), number of umbels (87.62%), number of umbellets (99.85%), number of seeds (104.94%), grain yield (62.38%), biological yield (35.99%), and harvest index (19.48%). Consortium of these potent bacteria also enhanced proximate constituents such as total ash (49.79%), ether extract (63.06%), crude fibre (48.91%), moisture content (33.40%), dry matter (31.45%), acid insoluble ash (33.20%), and crude protein (40.73%). A highly significant correlation (p ≤ 0.01) was found between nitrogen (r = 0.97), phosphorous (r = 0.95), and potassium (r = 0.97) contents of soil. This research enhances the knowledge of the effect of plant growth-promoting bacteria on nutrient properties of soil and fennel which deliver a new index for healthier use in organic agricultural practices.

Sulfur-oxidizing buffalo dung bacteria enhance growth and yield of Foeniculum vulgare Mill.

This study aimed to harness the benefits of sulfur-oxidizing beneficial bacteria from buffalo dung to improve crop yields of Foeniculum vulgare. A total of 61 bacterial isolates were screened from buffalo dung, of which 40 isolates exhibited plant-growth-promoting attributes, such as phosphate solubilization, indole-3-acetic acid production, and hydrogen cyanide production. Of these 40, four bacterial isolates, viz., BUFF12, BUFF14, BUFF23, and BUFF38, were the most potent, having plant-growth-promoting and sulfur-oxidizing properties. These four isolates produced phytase by solubilizing calcium phytate and sodium phytate. They solubilized potassium besides oxidizing the sulfur, causing an increase in soil fertility and crop production. All four isolates were nonpathogenic in nature, as demonstrated by a negative haemolysis test. According to the 16S rRNA gene sequence, the isolate BUFF14 was identified as Proteus mirabilis. Proteus mirabilis BUFF14 maximized seed germination with enhanced vegetative and reproductive parameters during pot and field trial studies, compared with the other isolates.