Effect of phosphorus solubilising bacteria on physiological and biochemical parameters in groundnut (Arachis hypogaea)

MAMTA  BAJYA; PUSHP  SHARMA; TEJPAL  BAJAYA

doi:10.56093/ijas.v96i7.177354

Authors

MAMTA BAJYA ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Intitute, New Delhi, India
PUSHP SHARMA Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, Punjab, India
TEJPAL BAJAYA Sri Karan Narendra College of Agriculture (Sri Karan Narendra Agriculture University, Jobner, Jaipur, Rajasthan), Jobner, Jaipur, Rajasthan

https://doi.org/10.56093/ijas.v96i7.177354

Keywords:

Bacillus, Bacteria consortion, PSB, Sustainable production

Abstract

The phosphorus use efficiency is low in groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.) due to phosphorus fertilisers in soil rapidly form insoluble complexes with metals like Fe, Al, Ca, and Mg. Phosphate solubilising bacteria (PSB) including Azotobacter, Bacillus, Pseudomonas, and their consortium enhance P availability through organic acid production and phosphatase activity, improving plant uptake and yield. Thus, this study evaluated seed treatments with PSB at recommended (50 kg/ha single superphosphate equivalent) and double P doses to assess physiological and biochemical parameters at 70 days after sowing. The experiment was conducted during rainy (kharif) season 2021 and 2022 at Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, Punjab using groundnut variety ‘SG99’ in a randomised block design. The PSB inoculants significantly boosted chlorophyll a (up to 1.91 mg/g FW with Azotobacter double dose), total chlorophyll (2.36 mg/g FW), carotenoids (0.486 mg/g FW), leghaemoglobin (3.56 mg/g nodule FW with Bacillus double dose), enzyme activities (nitrite reductase 0.982 µmol NO₂⁻ released/h/g FW; nitrate reductase 0.369 µmol NO₂⁻ formed/h/g FW), relative water content (70.70%), and membrane stability (76.93%) compared to controls. Total sugars reached 15.59 mg/g DW with Bacillus double dose. Thus, Bacillus and Azotobacter may be recommended in groundnut for sustainable production and quality.

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