EFFECT OF PHOSPHATE SOLUBILIZING BACTERIA (BACILLOUS MEGA THERIUM) AND PHOSPHATE FERTILIZER ON YIELD AND YIELD COMPONENTS OF WHTEAT

Abstract

A field study was conducted to investigate the effects and significance of phosphate solubilizing
bacteria (Bacillus megatherium) and different levels of phosphate fertilizer on yield and yield components of
wheat. Different microbial inoculums levels were used alone and combined with P fertilizer. The experiment
was laid out in randomized complete block design (RCBD) in three replications using seven different treatments
(bacteria alone and with various P combinations). Data was recorded on plant height (cm), number of
spikelets/spike, number of grains/spike, plant yield (g), 1000-grain weight (g), biological yield (kg/ha) and grain
yield (kg/ha). The bacteria were counted in one gram of soil at the depth of 0-15 and 15-30 (cm) after two week
sowing and after harvesting of the crop. The results showed that the grain yield was significantly increased
(3450 kg/ha) at T4 (90 kg p/ha, whereas, non-significant difference for grain yield (2385 and 2390 kg/ha
respectively) was observed among T2 (40 kg/ha) and T5 (phosphobacteria 25 ml/kg of seed). The lowest grain
yield (1180 kg/ha) was recorded in control. The results suggested that at T5 (phosphobacteria 25 ml/kg of seed)
could produce reasonable and economic yield.