Analyzing the Impact of Liquid PhosBac and NitroBac Biofertilizers through Integrated Plant Nutrient System on Growth and Yield of Cotton Plant | Chapter 2 | Current Research Progress in Agricultural Sciences Vol. 10

Plants benefiting bacterial and fungal species have been used in the soil as biofertilizers for several decades. Plant Growth Promoting Rhizobacteria (PGPR) improves plant growth through several mechanisms. Several agricultural countries have now adopted this technology of using PGPR(s) as biofertilizer formulations. Certain essential nutrients such as phosphate, potassium, nitrogen, etc., are required by the plant through natural systems such as by solubilization or fixation methods for improved growth and yield of the plant. The aim of the study is to check the effect of nitrogen-fixing and phosphate-solubilizing PGPRs on the growth and yield of the crop when applied according to the integrated plant nutrient system technique. In this experiment two formulations of Biofertilizers namely PhosBac and NitroBac were used on Cotton plants along with 1/4th dose of DAP which is used as substrate for the phosphate solubilizing bacteria (B. circulance) along with Azotobacter sp. as nitrogen-fixing PGPR applied through integrated plant nutrient on 3 keys stages of plant growth (at time of sowing, on flowering stage and fruiting stage). The results showed that there was a significant improvement in morphological characteristics such as plant length, plant height, and root length when PhosBac and NitroBac bio-fertilizers were inoculated in cotton plants. Additionally, significant improvements in the growth and yield of cotton plants were observed, which were equivalent to the chemical fertilizer “Cotton Grow”. The study concluded that the PGPR-based biofertilizers are eco-friendly and improve the physical and chemical structure of the soil as well. These results are a ray of hope for gradually replacing chemical inorganic fertilizers with biofertilizer formulations which will result in rescuing the deteriorating agricultural land of Pakistan.

 

Author (s) Details

 

Shaikh AS
Department of Microbiology, University of Karachi, Karachi, Pakistan andDepartment of Microbiology, PCSIR Labs Complex, University of Karachi, Karachi, Pakistan.

 

Ali AT
Department of Microbiology, University of Karachi, Karachi, Pakistan.

 

Khan A
Crop Disease Research Institute (CDRI), PRC, University of Karachi, Pakistan.

 

Sohail M
PCSIR Labs Complex, Karachi, Pakistan.

 

Please see the book here:- https://doi.org/10.9734/bpi/crpas/v10/1292