Assessment of multi-strain PGPRs biofertilization as compared to sole-strain or mineral n-fertilization on wheat plants grown in clayey soil in Egypt

Abstract

A field experiment was performed at Malawi Station, Agric. Res. Center (ARC), Minia, Egypt during 2004-2005 and 2005-2006 winter seasons, to investigate the response of bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cv. Sids 1, grown in clayey soil to inoculation with plant-growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPRs) such as cyanobacteria spp; Serratia sp; Rhizobium leguminosarum bv. viciae and Bacillus polymyxa either solely or in combinations in comparison to mineral N-fertilization, Full N-dose; 75 Kg N/fed. Results revealed the superiority of Bacillus polymyxa for increasing wheat growth and productivity followed by Serratia, Cyanobacteria, and Rhizobium inoculation. Concerning combined inoculations, tetras combination treatment caused the highest increases in wheat parameters, triple combinations were the second, dual combinations were the third and the sole inoculation caused lower increases but still higher than control treatment. On the other hand, full dose of N-fertilizers recorded increases ranged between those of tetras and those of triple combinations. Also, results confirmed the necessity of combined applications with N2-fixers and its superiority on mineral N-fertilizations for wheat productivity.

Egyptian Journal of Biotechnology Vol. 25 (1) 2007: pp. 27-44