Survival of Microbial consortium in granular formulations, degradation and release of microorganisms in soil

Abstract

The green revolution bought amazing consequences in food grain production but with insufficient concern for agriculture sustainability. Biofertilizers are gaining importance in sustaining agriculture. Various complementing combinations of microbial inoculants for management of major nutrients are necessary for agriculture sustainability. The present investigation was conducted to study the survivability of granular formulations containing Nitrogen fixing bacteria (Azotobacter chrococcum), phosphate solubilizing bacteria (Bacillus megaterium) and plant growth promoting bacteria (Pseudomonas fluorescens) in consortium prepared using different flour. Maximum survival of microbial consortium was observed in Soybean, followed by Soybean + Semolina and Rice inoculant formulations. Minimum survival of population was observed in Ragi + Semolina inoculant formulation. Wheat, wheat + semolina, soybean, soybean + semolina granular formulations have shown better degradation compared to other granular formulations both in presence and absence of tomato and finger millet (Eleusine coracana). Among different granular inoculant formulations, Maximum release was observed in soybean granular inoculant formulations in presence of tomato and Finger millet plant and in absence of plant and minimum release of microbial consortium was observed in ragi + semolina granular inoculant formulations during incubation in soil.