Inoculation Effect of Methylobacterium suomiense on Growth of Red Pepper under Different Levels of Organic and Chemical Fertilizers

• Published in: Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer Vol. 42; no. 4
• Main Authors: Lee, M.K., Chungbuk National University, Cheongju, Republic of Korea, Lee, G.S., Chungbuk National University, Cheongju, Republic of Korea, Yim, W.J., Chungbuk National University, Cheongju, Republic of Korea, Hong, I.S., Chungbuk National University, Cheongju, Republic of Korea, Palaniappan, Pitchai, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju, Republic of Korea, Siddikee, Md. Ashaduzzaman, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju, Republic of Korea, Boruah, Hari P. Deka, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju, Republic of Korea, Madhaiyan, Munusamy, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju, Republic of Korea, Ahn, K.S., Baekseok Culture University, Cheonan, Republic of Korea, Sa, T.M., Chungbuk National University, Cheongju, Republic of Korea
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 01.08.2009
• Subjects: ABONOS ORGANICOS; biofertilizer; chemical fertilizers; colonization; ENGRAIS ORGANIQUE; Methylobacterium; ORGANIC FERTILIZERS; plant growth
• ISSN: 0367-6315

Use of plant growth promoting symbiotic and non-symbiotic free-living beneficial bacteria as external source of nitrogen is a major research concern for sustainable crop production in the 21∨st century. In view of this, an experiment was conducted under controlled conditions to determine the effects of inoculation with Methylobacterium suomiense CBMB120, a plant growth promoting (PGP) root and shoot colonizer on red pepper, for the purpose of reducing external chemical nitrogen fertilization. Amendments with organic fertilizer and chemical fertilizer in the form of NPK were made at dosages of 50%, 75% and 100%, at 425 and 115 kg/ha-¹ measurements. The soil type used was loam, with a pH of 5.13. The growth responses were measured as plant height at 19, 36 and 166 days after transplantation and final biomass production after 166 days. It was found that inoculation with M. suomiense CBMB120 promotes plant height increase during the active growth phase at 19 and 36 days by 14.17% and 10.03%, respectively. Thereafter, the bacteria inoculated plantlets showed canopy size increment. A highly significant inoculation effect on plant height at p less than 0.01 level was found for 100% level of organic matter and chemical amendment in red pepper plantlets after 36 days and 19 days from transplantation. Furthermore, there was a significantly higher (10.30% and 6.84%) dry biomass accumulation in M. suomiense CBMB120 inoculated plants compared to un-inoculated ones. A 25% reduction in the application of chemical nitrogen can be inferred with inoculation of M. suomiense CBMB120 at with comparable results to that of 100% chemical fertilization alone. Enumeration of total bacteria in rhizosphere soil confirms that the introduced bacteria can multiply along ther hizosphere soil. Large scale field study may lead to the development of M. suomiense CBMB120 as an efficient biofertilizer.