Effect of plant growth promoting rhizobacteria on growth, yield attributes and yield of wheat (Triticum aestivum)

Abstract

A field experiment was carried out at the ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi during rabi season of 2014-15 to evaluate the effect of three plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) strains, PW5 (Providencia sp.), Azotobacter (IARI Inoculant) and CW1 (Anabaena sp.) along with 75% recommended dose of nitrogen (N) and full dose of phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) fertilizers (N 150, P 26, K 33 kg/ha). An increase of 6% in plant height, 19.6% in number of tillers/m2 and 14.5% in dry matter/m2 were obtained by application of 75% N + Azotobacter+ CW1 + PW5 over the treatment receiving 75% N alone. Leaf area index was recorded 23% higher by application of 75% N + Azotobacter + CW1 as compared to 75% N. Further, an increase of 15.8, 7.1, 28.0 and 10.2% was obtained with respect to effective tillers/m2, spike length, spike weight and test weight, respectively by the application of 75% N + Azotobacter+ CW1 + PW5 as compared to the treatment receiving 75% N alone. Further, the former treatment recorded 14.2, 30.3 and 52.4% higher values for root length, root volume and root dry weight, respectively, over application of recommended dose of NPK. Grain yield was 22.6% higher in treatment receiving 75% N + Azotobacter + CW1 + PW5 over 75% N application. Our study clearly showed the positive influence of PGPR on the growth parameters and grain yield of wheat crop.