DEVELOPMENT OF A LIQUID BIOFERTILIZER WITH INDIGENOUS MICROBIAL STRAINS OF HIMACHAL PRADESH

Abstract

newline ABSTRACT newlineFrom the rhizospheric soil samples of Triticum aestivum (Wheat), Zea mays (Maize), Solanum tuberosum (Potato), Aloe barbadensis (Aloevera) and Bacopa monnieri (Brahmi), a total of 156 isolates (Nitrogen Fixers and Phosphate solubilizers) were obtained, out of which only 62 were found efficient. The screened isolates were tested for PGPRs traits like IAA, siderophore and ammonia production. On the basis of 16S rRNA gene sequencing, the efficient isolates i.e. WT-A2, PT-A1, MZ-AS2, WT-AS3, MZ-P4 and PT-P2 were found to be Stenotrophomonas maltophilia (GU371215), Bacillus licheniformis (GU371216), Azospirillum brasilense (GU371217), Azospirillum brasilense (GU371218), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (GU371219) and Burkholderia cepacia (GU371220), respectively. The most efficient isolates were WT-A2, MZ-AS2 and PT-P2. Out of five liquid carriers tested, Matka Khaad was found to be most effective in the development of liquid formulation. It maintained the microbial poupulation of 9 log CFU/ml up to 240th day of incubation, and 8 log CFU/ml up to 300th day of incubation. The efficient native isolates survived well under stress (temp., pH and desiccation) conditions in the developed liquid formulation. newline