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During industrial licorice production, considerable amounts of licorice root residues (LRR) are produced. The use of these residues as an agricultural production input could be beneficial to sustainable economic growth and the environment. Therefore, we evaluated the application of LRR to some growth media at (v/v) [100% soil (S), 100% LRR (L), 50% soil + 50% LRR (SL), 50% perlite + 50% LRR (PL), 50% cocopeat + 50% LRR (CL), and 25% soil + 25% perlite + 25% cocopeat + 25% LRR (SPCL)] plus humic acid (HA) (0, 5, 10, or 15 gl−1) during bell pepper production. Results showed that LRR application plus HA fertigation significantly improved the vegetative and reproductive growth and mineral content of pepper. The highest fresh weight (shoot and root), plant height, root length, leaf number, and chlorophyll content were observed for plants treated with SPCL + 15 gl−1 HA. The highest number of flowers (18.08), fruits per plant, fruit length and diameter, fruit fresh weight, and yield were associated with the peppers grown under SPCL. Deformed fruits significantly increased in the S treatment whereas no deformed fruits were observed under the SPCL treatment. The highest leaf K, Ca, Fe, and Zn contents were observed in the medium culture containing 25% LRR (SPCL) + 15 gl−1 HA. The findings revealed that the use of SPCL + 15 gl−1 HA fertigation could provide the best conditions for fruit production by bell pepper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To develop bio-fertilizers for salt stress mitigation in winter wheat, 5 Pantoea spp. strains isolated from spontaneous plants of the Algerian Sahara were selected and identified based on the 16S rRNA gene, and distinguished at the "strain" level by the IGS sequences. A plant test (greenhouse condition, non-sterile substrate) showed their effectiveness in promoting the growth of winter wheat cv. Goldkorn, under normal and saline conditions. An improvement of shoot length (no stress: up to +37% for Pantoea sp. BS27; salt stress at 200 mM: up to +33% for Pantoea sp. BS27) and dry weight (no stress: up to +24% for Pantoea sp. OT18; salt stress at 100 mM: up to +56% for Pantoea sp. ME3; salt stress at 200 mM: up to 39% for Pantoea sp. OT18) was recorded. The current study suggests the Pantoea spp. strains ME3, OT37, and OT18 as promising inocula for yield improvement in salt-impacted soils. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There are a substantial number of studies on the biofertilization effects of cyanobacteria in rice paddy fields, mainly attributed to biological fixation of N2, but not much attention has been given to their fertilizing capacity in aerobic soils. Few studies have used solid media (i.e. a soil) when testing the plant-growth-promoting effects of microalgae on plants, and particularly on wheat. The purpose of this study was to test the biofertilizing effect of a filamentous cyanobacterium, previously isolated from an agricultural soil, in order to evaluate the potential substitution of chemical fertilizers and to test its phyto-stimulating capacity. Seedlings of Triticum aestivum were grown in pots with a peat-vermiculite mixture (1:1 weight basis) in an experiment designed as a complete randomized block, consisting of four treatments and with four replicates each: a pure culture of Anabaena cylindrica concentrated by centrifugation to 2 g dry matter L−1 (treatment B); spent cyanobacteria growth medium filtered at 0.22 µm (treatment F); harvested cyanobacterial mat re-suspended in distilled water (treatment WB); and distilled water as a control (treatment W). Aboveground wheat plant mass was improved by 40% in both treatments with cyanobacterial biomass (B and WB), as compared to the control (W) and filtrate (F), demonstrating that the co-cultivation with living cyanobacterial biomass was key to plant improvement. Chlorophyll contents were also increased by nearly 50% and nitrogen by over 10% in the treatment WB, clearly indicating that nutrients in the filtrate were irrelevant to the beneficial effects on plant growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Though application of chemical fertilizers has contributed significantly to the huge increase in the world food production, the adverse impacts of it are well known. To develop an organic farming system an experiment was conducted on paddy, in old alluvial soil zone, with vermicompost prepared from screened municipality solid waste and different doses of bio-fertilizer and chemical fertilizer which is productive, profitable, enhances soil health and conserves the natural resource. We compared crop yields, crop morphological and morpho-physiological characters along with economical analysis obtained from three consecutive years experiment (2017 to 2019) along with long-term soil sustainability. It has been observed that 25% NPK fertilizer can safely be supplemented by low cost and natural resource-based vermicompost at 2.5 t ha−1 to achieve long-term sustainability in paddy cultivation that is more productive and profitable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One of the main problems with soil chemistry of phosphorus (P) fertilizers is its limited availability by plants. Residual P remains on the soil surface and may cause environmental problems. The use of materials such as peat moss is not cost-effective in some countries due to its scarcity and high price. This study was performed to reduce the use of chemical fertilizers and limited expensive organic compounds in the cultivation beds to prevent environmental pollution and to investigate the effect of organic compounds from agricultural plant wastes and bio-fertilizers on characteristics of ivy geranium (Pelargonium peltatum). The experiment was carried out in a randomized complete block design (R.C.B.D) with 16 treatments and 4 repetitions. Cuttings were rooted and transferred to cultivation beds containing municipal solid waste compost, tea waste compost, leaf and wood compost, pond sediment and sand. Plant characteristics including morphological, biochemical, physiological and flowering parameters were evaluated at the end of the first flower shedding stage. Phosphate solubilizing microorganisms' bio-fertilizer improved plant vegetative and generative growth. The best results were obtained in plants cultivated in a mixture of sand, tea compost, cocopeat and pond sediment. It could be concluded that phosphate solubilizing microorganisms as a bio-fertilizer together with a mixture of sand, tea compost, cocopeat and pond sediment as a new cultivation bed may be applied for suitable growth and development of ivy geranium. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rapid mining activities in Sukinda mining area have generated a huge amount of toxic Cr(VI) which accumulated and persisted in the soil for decades and reduced rice plant productivity in adjoining agricultural fields. Hence, for the bioremediation of rice field soil, a Cr(VI) resistant, thermotolerant and fast-growing native green algal strain SM1 was selected, which rendered resistance to 60 ppm of Cr(VI). DPC assay, ICP-OES and Raman-Spectroscopic analysis confirmed 92.765% of Cr(VI) reduction within 48 h by SM1 under optimized condition. Moreover, Cr(VI) adsorption by the green alga was also established by FTIR and SEM-EDX analysis. The alga (SM1) was identified as Chlorella thermophila by 18S rDNA sequencing (MN855377). Its application significantly improved rice (Oryza sativa var. Lalata) seed germination, seedling growth, seed vigor index, pigment and protein content. CHNS(O) and ICP-OES analysis of the algal biomass depicted the presence of several organic and inorganic compounds, which can be utilized as bio-fertilizer for the rice seedlings. Field experiments on rice plant growth characteristics should be conducted to utilize this potent algal strain in chromium contaminated rice fields for the bio-reduction of Cr(VI) and improvement of rice crop productivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recycling of organic residue is an eco-friendly approach for sustainable agriculture on personal and governmental level. Two field experiments were conducted during 2018 and 2019 seasons to evaluate the effect of inoculated of rice straw (+RS) by rate of 3 t fed−1 (one feddan = 4200 m2) or without addition (−RS) as interacted with sole application of compost, mineral and bio-fertilizer or combinations among them on maize yield, and it's some macro and micro-nutrients. A split-plot arrangement with three replicates was adopted. Most of the studied maize parameters, 100-grain weight, grain, stover, ear and biological yields, as well as N, P, K, Fe, Zn, Mn and Cu were significantly affected due to + RS compared − RS in both seasons. Likely, addition of mineral fertilizer alone or along with compost or compost + bio-fertilizer + mineral of 75 or 50% of recommended dose gave significantly the highest values of above-mentioned characters in both seasons. The interaction of + RS and supplying with mineral fertilizer alone or along with compost or compost + bio-fertilizer + mineral resulted in the highest values of the growth traits, 100-grain weight, grain, stover, ear and biological yields, as well as N, P, K, Fe, Zn, Mn and Cu contents in both studied seasons. The integrated nutrient combinations of inoculated RS and compost or biofertilizer or both with mineral fertilizer may be used as an eco-friendly agronomical practice to obtain an agreeable maize yield and its contents of phyto-nutrients with reducing eco-pollution under semi-arid conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Potassium solubilizing bacteria (PSB) are able to dissolve K from K-minerals and enhance plant growth and yield. A field experiment was carried out during 2017/2018–2018/2019 growing seasons in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replicates. This study aims to assess the performance of bio-fertilization (Bacillus cereus) as PSB on the growth of potato (Kara Spp) and availability of N, P, and K. Potato plants were fertilized with K-feldspar and inoculated with PSB. The results showed that the PSB significantly increased the plant height (PH), branches number (BN), and shoot dry weight by about 15%, 27%, and 26%, respectively, compared to the untreated one. Soil available K increased by 42% as a result of PSB inoculation, moreover, K uptake by potato tubers increased by 62% in compassion with untreated plants. Leaf N, P, and K concentrations as well as the uptake were significantly increased in the plants inoculated with PSB compared to the un-inoculated plants. The graded weights of potato were increased by 20%, 26%, and 25%, for large, medium, and small size of tubers, respectively as a result of applying of bio-fertilizer. The bio-fertilization of potato with Bacillus cereus significantly increased the total yield of potato by 21% above the untreated plants. The application of K-feldspar (12% total K2O) at a rate of 240 kg K2O ha−1 to potato inoculated with Bacillus cereus gave a total tuber yield of 40 ton ha−1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In view of the improper use of chemical fertilizers in sustainable agricultural practices, a pot as well as a field experiment were carried out to evaluate the effect of Glomus mosseae (biofertilizer), sole Nitrogen + Phosphorus + Potassium (NPK) a chemical fertilizer, and the combination of Glomus mosseae + NPK on total growth and yield of groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.). A significant difference was observed between Glomus mosseae, sole NPK and combination of Glomus mosseae + NPK with respect to the control in the pot as well as field trails. Application of bio-fertilizer in form of Glomus mosseae was more effective in its role of enhancing physiological, biochemical, essential nutrient levels and total crop yield of groundnut as compared to chemical fertilizer used in form of NPK and the combination of Glomus mosseae +NPK. Our study signifies the use of Glomus mosseae as a cost-effective, eco- friendly biofertilizer, which may reduce the amount of excessive use of chemical fertilizer needed for groundnut production and sustainable agricultural practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A 5-year field study was conducted to improve nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) use efficiencies in wheat with the synergistic use of plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR), arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), and spectral properties for deriving need-based fertilizer N management decisions. Bio-fertilizer consortium inoculation on wheat seed improved rhizosphere mycorrhization, albeit native mycorrhiza also produced mycorrhiza colonization. Lower mycorrhiza colonization was observed in no-P and high P treatments at 30 and 60 days after sowing (DAS) when wheat seeds were not inoculated with bio-fertilizer. However, the mycorrhiza colonization was independent of the fertilizer P level at 60 DAS in the inoculated treatments. The integrated nutrient management with bio-fertilizer and need-based N use sustained highest grain yield with 16.7% and 25% less use of fertilizer N and P, respectively. The agronomic (AE) and recovery efficiencies (RE) of applied N and P were increased by 23.0% (AEN), 21.3% (REN), 40.2% (AEP) and 49.8% (REP), respectively. On-farm validation studies exhibited improvement in partial factor productivity of fertilizer P (PFPP) by 35.8% and fertilizer N (PFPN) by 22.5% in comparison with the soil test-based recommendation. The synergistic use of bio-fertilizer and need-based N management improved the PGPR population, dehydrogenase and alkaline phosphatase activities in soil. The improved soil microbiological properties attributed to better mycorrhization and microflora propagation in soil-facilitated nutrient assimilation and thus higher N and P use efficiencies in wheat. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to evaluate the effect of vermicompost and vermiwash biofertilizers on the traits of fenugreek (Trigonella foenum) plant, a field experiment of a randomized complete block design with 8 treatments and 3 replications was conducted. The treatments consisted of control without fertilizer, vermicompost at 5, 10, and 15 tons per hectare, vermiwash spraying with 3,000, 6,000, and 12,000 ppm, and a combined application of 10 tons of vermicompost with 6,000 ppm vermiwash. In this research, traits of crop growth rate (CGR), pod length, pod width, grain yield, chlorophyll a and b, essential oil percentage, and essential oil yield were evaluated. The results revealed that the use of vermicompost biofertilizer increased the measured quantitative traits more than that of the vermiwash. The most and the least effects on all traits, except for the length of the pod, were 15 and 5 tons vermicompost per hectare, respectively. The treatment of 10 tons of vermicompost with 6,000 ppm vermiwash did not show significant differences in 10 and 15 tons vermicompost per hectare in most traits. It was observed that the application of vermicompost fertilizer leads to weaker results than the vermiwash fertilizer. With the increase of vermiwash concentration, the effect of this fertilizer on the measured traits reduced; however, in most traits, the results of the application of 3,000 and 6,000 ppm vermiwash had a statistically significant effect on the treatment with 5 tons of vermicompost per hectare. Overall, this experiment showed that all the evaluated traits in this study have a positive reaction to the application of vermicompost and vermiwash biofertilizers. Also, the response of the fenugreek plant to the vermicompost is much greater than the vermiwash fertilizer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) promote the plant growth by various direct and indirect mechanisms. The present study was undertaken to isolate and characterise the PGPRs of plum (Prunus domestica) rhizosphere in Pakistan. A total of 95 rhizobacteria were isolated, out of which 40 strains were selected on the basis of morphological, biochemical and Gram staining characteristics. The selected isolates were screened forin vitroplant growth promoting potential and were subsequently evaluated for host plant growth promotion. The selected isolates demonstrated strong lytic enzymatic activities and were able to produce ammonia, siderophore, Hydrogen cyanide along with capability of phosphate solubilisation. Moreover, the results showed a significant growth suppression of pathogenicFusarium oxysporumandRhizoctonia solaniin anin vitroassay. The plant microbe interaction study was carried out using 11 most efficient rhizobacterial strains inoculated to roots of plum plants. The inoculated PGPRs significantly augmented the leaves number per shoot, shoot diameter, shoot length and plant height. The inoculation also significantly increased the chlorophyll contents of leaves, concentration of micro and macro nutrients compared with control. The current study shows the importance of these selected PGPRs as bio-fertilizer to improve the health and productivity of plum species in Pakistan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Various fertilizer regimes influence the content and composition of secondary metabolites. Superabsorbent hydrogels are crosslinked hydrophilic polymers that increase soil capacity to hold water, nutrients and improve the plant’s growth and yield. The aim of this investigation was to evaluate the growth parameters and essential oil (EO) content, yield and composition of lemon verbena under sole and combined application of conventional chemical fertilizers, bio-fertilizer and superabsorbent polymer. The Gas chromatography (GC) and Gas chromatography with mass spectroscopy (GC-MS) results demonstrated that oxygenated monoterpenes as the dominant class; also geranial and neral as major constituents of lemon verbena EO. Using superabsorbent hydrogel induced the highest content of geranial and neral. According to the results, although sole application of treatments was useful, their combined use was more effective to increase dry mass and oil yield of lemon verbena. Hence, the combination of chemical fertilizers plus biofertilizer and superabsorbent hydrogel can be suggested as an integrated nutrient management with the aim of optimizing the production of biomass and EO. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to investigate the effect of foliar application of organic fertilizer and micronutrients on quantitative and qualitative characteristics of niger plant, a field experiment was conducted in a complete randomized block design with three replications at Shahrekord University Research Farm during the years 2013–2014. Treatments included three levels of humic acid (1, 3, and 6 liters of humic acid per hectare), iron (four parts per million, ppm), zinc (four parts per million, ppm), and control (without humic acid, iron, and zinc). In this experiment, traits of the number of heads per plant, number of seeds per head, 1000 seeds' weight, grain yield, and also oil and protein content were evaluated. The findings showed that foliar application of humic acid, zinc, and iron resulted in a significant increase in all analyzed traits. The most significant plant response was obtained with the use of six liters humic acid per hectare, and the second most significant plant response was seen with the sprayed zinc treatment which was probably due to limited absorption and deficiency of these elements in the tested soil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Organics, biological, and inorganic fertilizers play a crucial role for improving crop yield and soil properties. Accordingly, we assessed their impact on yield, microbial activities, and transformations of carbon (C), nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and sulfur (S) in soils under a 12-year-old intensively cultivated rice (Oriza sativaL.), mustard (Brassica junceaL.), sesame (Sesamum indicumL.) system with sole inorganic (NPK); NPK + farmyard manure (NPKF); NPK + green manure (NPKG) (Sesbania sesbanL.), and NPK + green manure + bio-fertilizer (NPKGB) (Azotobacter chroococcum+pseudomonas putida) treatments in sub-tropical India. The system yield was much higher with NPKF (23%) and NPKGB (18%) than that with NPK. Organic supplementation had a favorable influence on soil microbial biomass C (Cmic), N (Nmic), and activities of extracellular enzymes. Results of principal component and multiple regression analyses showed significant influence of Cmicon system yield (R2 = 91,p = 0.001) and S availability (R2 = 62,p = 0.001). Similarly, mineralizable N and acid phosphatase could predict significantly soil available N (R2 = 85,p = 0.001) and P (R2 = 51;p = 0.001), respectively. Results thus indicated that integrated nutrient management (NPKF/G) improved system yield, nutrient accumulation, and microbial activities in soils. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Nutrients play an important role in improving productivity and quality of banana. It has been observed that the nutrient applied alone was less effective in improving banana production as compared to nutrients applied in combination with organic manures and biofertilizers. Keeping in view the conservation of soil health and quality production on a long-term basis, a field experiment was conducted during 2009–2011 to find out the influence of Integrated Nutrient Management of banana on leaf characteristics, growth and nutrient status of tissue cultured bananacv.‘Grand Naine’. The study indicates that combination of inorganic fertilizers with organic manures, biofertilizers and bioagents significantly increased growth parameters, leaf characteristics, and leaf nutrient status of banana. The leaf characteristics in terms of functional leaves, total number of leaves, phyllochron, leaf area, and leaf area index were significantly influenced by the combination of inorganic fertilizers with different biofertilizers and organic manures. Similarly, leaf nutrient status like nitrogen, phosphorus pentoxide,(P2O5), potassium dioxide (K2O), and leaf relative water content were also influenced greatly by different nutrients. Treatment involving combination of 100% recommended dose of fertilizer (RDF) + arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) +Azospirillum+Trichoderma harzianumshowed overall superiority in most of the parameters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Field experiments were conducted during the winter seasons of 2005-2006 and 2006-2007 at Sekhampur, West Bengal, India, to evaluate the performance of chickpea cultivar 'Mahamaya-2' with variable proportions of phosphorus (P) (0, 13.1, 26.2 and 39.3 kg/ha) and bio-fertilizers (no seed inoculation, inoculation with phosphobacterin [Pseudomonas striata] and co-inoculation of Rhizobium with phosphobacterin) in laterite soil (entisol) under rainfed conditions. P and bio-fertilizers application influenced significantly the growth attributes, nodulation, leghaemoglobin content, nitrogenase activity, yield components, seed and stover yields, harvest index and P uptake of chickpea, except test weight. The highest seed yield (1085 kg/ha) obtained with 39.3 kg P/ha, producing 40.7, 27.4 and 4.0% more yield, respectively, over control (no P input), 13.1 kg and 26.2 kg P/ha. The seed yield produced by 39.3 and 26.2 kg P/ha had no significant difference. Seed inoculation with Rhizobium and phosphobacterin was significantly superior over no inoculation or phosphobacterin inoculation alone. Combined application of P at 26.2 kg/ha and bio-fertilizers (Rhizobium and phosphobacterin) enhanced significantly all these characters compared to other levels of P with bio-fertilizer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Field experiments conducted under different levels of irrigation and fertilizers reveal that water and fertilizers increased each others' efficiency in several field crops. However, the over dose of fertilizers in the absence of adequate watering or nutrients deficiency under frequent watering had adverse effects on crop productivity. These effects were mediated through plant water status and related physiological processes. Thus, a proper combination of irrigation water and fertilizers is required for attaining high water and fertilizers use efficiency in field crops. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]