Role of Zinc Solubilizing Bacteria in Enhancing Growth and Nutrient Accumulation in Rice Plants (Oryza sativa) Grown on Zinc (Zn) Deficient Submerged Soil

• Published in: Journal of soil science and plant nutrition Vol. 22; no. 1; pp. 971 - 984
• Main Authors: Prathap, S., Thiyageshwari, S., Krishnamoorthy, R., Prabhaharan, J., Vimalan, B., Gopal, N. O., Anandham, R.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Cham Springer International Publishing 01.03.2022; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Accumulation; Agricultural production; Agriculture; Bacillus aryabhattai; Bacteria; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Biometrics; Calcareous soils; Clay loam; Clay minerals; Clay soils; Crop yield; Ecology; Environment; Experiments; Fertilizers; Grain; Incubation; Life Sciences; Original Paper; Oryza sativa; Plant growth; Plant Sciences; Rice; Sandy soils; Seeds; Soil Science & Conservation; Soils; Solubilization; Zinc carbonate; Zinc oxide; Zinc oxides; Zinc sulfate; Tamil Nadu India; India; Zinc solubilizing bacteria; Incubation study; Zinc release; Rice
• ISSN: 0718-9508; 0718-9516
• DOI: 10.1007/s42729-021-00706-7

Zinc (Zn) is a mineral that is required for normal plant and human metabolism; nevertheless, Zn deficiency in soil poses a significant threat to long-term agricultural productivity. In this investigation, the impacts of zinc solubilizing bacteria (ZSB) on Zn release, rice plant growth, and yield parameters in the Zn-deficient submerged soil were evaluated. The Zn solubilization capacity of five different bacterial isolates was tested, followed by an incubation study that was conducted for 9 weeks under the submerged condition in the Zn-deficient calcareous sandy clay loam soil. A field experiment was conducted in Zn-deficient soil with randomized block design and replicated thrice to find out the impact of two Zn sources, viz., zinc carbonate (ZnCO 3 ) and zinc sulfate (ZnSO 4 ) with the efficient ZSB on rice growth and Zn accumulation in the rice grains. Out of five tested bacterial isolates, Bacillus aryabhattai KSB N 2 K 7 released the significantly higher amount of Zn in the liquid medium amended with insoluble Zn sources, such as zinc oxide (ZnO) and zinc carbonate (ZnCO 3 ) of 185.7 mg L –1 and 185.4 mg L –1 , respectively. The incubation study revealed that the application of ZnSO 4 (25 kg ha –1 ) with B . aryabhattai KSB N 2 K 7 showed a significantly higher range of Zn release (3.81 to 5.12 mg kg –1 ) during 9 weeks of incubation as compared with that of ZnCO 3 (11 kg ha –1 ) with B . aryabhattai KSB N 2 K 7 (3.52 to 4.48 mg kg –1 ). The application of Zn sources with B . aryabhattai KSB N 2 K 7 resulted in a significant increase in plant biometrics. The application of 25 kg ZnSO 4 per hectare with B . aryabhattai KSB N 2 K 7 resulted in the significantly higher grain yield of 5806 kg ha –1 than that of treatment containing recommended dose of fertilizers alone. The application of 25 kg ZnSO 4 per hectare with B . aryabhattai KSB N 2 K 7 registered significantly higher Zn accumulation in grain compared to all other treatments. Thus, the results demonstrated the crucial role of Bacillus aryabhattai KSB N 2 K 7 in Zn release and rice fortification in the Zn-deficient submerged soil.