Enhancing Spring Barley Grain Yield with Local Biofertilizers in the Semi-Arid Steppe Zone of Northern Kazakhstan

Abstract

Barley is one of the most important grain crops grown in all agricultural regions of the world. It is unique in its chemical composition and health benefits. In Kazakhstan, the largest country in Central Asia, barley is the second most important grain commodity after wheat. The main goal of the project was a comparative study of the effect of four local biofertilizers in the form of consortia of indigenous soil microorganisms with PGPR and PGPF properties on the grain yield of spring barley variety “Tselinny 2005” in the conditions of the Kazakhstan semi-arid steppe zone. Employing a systematic field trial design, each biofertilizer's impact was assessed through its application rates and methods, comparing against control plots without biofertilizer treatment. Grain yield was meticulously measured post-harvest, accounting for variations in environmental conditions, to ascertain the biofertilizers' contributions to crop productivity. Based on the results obtained, recommend the most effective biofertilizers to barley producers. Laboratory tests of germination energy, germination of spring barley seeds inoculated with biofertilizers, and post-embryonic development of roots and shoots showed the effective colonization potential of at least three tested biofertilizers. Single-factor field experiments over two years showed that the significant benefits of employing biofertilizers B1 and B4, which not only promote a 50% increase in spring barley grain yield but also present a sustainable and environmentally beneficial alternative to synthetic fertilizers, pesticides, and fungicides to increase barley grain yield in areas subject to abiotic and biotic stress. Utilizing these biofertilizers could reduce environmental impact, and lower production costs, offering a holistic approach to enhancing agricultural productivity in semi-arid regions.