2026· Brazilian Journal of Biology· 0 citations· 28 references
Abstract
Abstract Soybean has significant importance in the global agricultural sector. However, yield is often compromised by the low availability of phosphorus in the soil. The inoculation of phosphate-solubilizing bacteria has shown promise in increasing the absorption of this nutrient. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the efficiency of Bacillus licheniformis as a phosphorus solubilizer, as well as to investigate its impact on soybean crop development. The experimental design was a randomized block design arranged in a 4x2 factorial scheme, with four replications. Treatments consisted of four phosphate fertilization rates (0, 40, 60, and 80 kg ha−1 P2O5, applied as single superphosphate and equivalent to 0, 50%, 75%, and 100% the recommended rate) associated or not with inoculation with Bacillus licheniformis. Morphological variables (plant height, root length, stem diameter, and branch number) and yield components (pods per plant, seeds per plant, seeds per pod, thousand grain weight, and grain yield) were determined. There were no significant effects of biological inoculation or phosphorus rate on morphological characteristics or some yield components, attributed to the high content of available phosphorus in the experimental soil (39.3 mg dm−3). On the other hand, inoculation with B. licheniformis significantly increased thousand grain weight and grain yield, even under high phosphorus availability. Regression analysis indicated that both variables had a positive linear response to phosphorus rate. These results reinforce the agronomic potential of B. licheniformis as a complementary technology to phosphate fertilization, contributing to the sustainability of soybean production.
Abstract Brazil is the world's third-largest corn producer, which is considered a demanding crop in terms of soil fertility. Phosphorus is known to be an essential element for crop development, and in most arable areas, this element is found in a form that is poorly available to the plant. Therefore, the objective of this study is to evaluate the influence of phosphorus-solubilizing bacteria (Bacillus subtilis, B. megaterium, and B. aryabhattai) on the availability of this nutrient, combined with phosphate fertilizer doses, on early corn development. A completely randomized experimental design was used in a 2 x 3 factorial arrangement, consisting of six treatments and five replicates. The treatments consisted of treatment with or without the bacteria and three phosphorus doses (0, 50, and 100% of the P dose). The evaluations performed included stem diameter, root length, shoot and root dry matter, chlorophyll index, and shoot phosphorus content. Data were analyzed by ANOVA (F-test). Means for inoculation treatments were compared using Tukey’s test, while phosphorus rates were evaluated by linear regression. Inoculation with Bacillus spp. significantly increased final plant height, root length, and dry matter accumulation, while chlorophyll index, stem diameter, and shoot phosphorus content did not differ significantly from the inoculant. Increasing phosphorus doses significantly increased plant height, root length, dry matter, and shoot phosphorus content, but did not significantly influence chlorophyll index or stem diameter. The interaction between inoculant use and phosphorus doses was not significant for any of the variables evaluated. These results indicate that inoculation with Bacillus spp. can promote vegetative development at later stages, while phosphorus is crucial from the early stages of the crop.
A. G. Caris, T. R. B. Silva, C. Z. Alves et al.· Brazilian Journal of Biology· 0 citations
Soybean is an important legume crop valued for its high protein and oil content, but its productivity is often limited by poor soil fertility and environmental stresses. This study aimed to determine the optimum potassium application rate for improving soybean growth and yield under the agroecological conditions of Kabul, Afghanistan. A field experiment was conducted during the 2025 growing season at the Research Farm of the Faculty of Agriculture, Kabul University, using a randomized complete block design with five potassium levels (0, 25, 50, 75, and 100 kg ha⁻¹) and three replications. Standard agronomic practices were applied uniformly throughout the experiment. Data were collected on plant height, branches per plant, pods per plant, total seeds per plant, 100-seed weight, and grain yield, and analysed using STAR software with the least significant difference test at the 5% probability level. Potassium application had no significant effect on vegetative growth traits, including plant height and number of branches per plant. However, it significantly improved yield components and grain yield. The application of 75 kg K ha⁻¹ produced the highest number of pods per plant, greatest 100-seed weight, and maximum grain yield, whereas increasing the rate to 100 kg K ha⁻¹ resulted in reduced yield. The findings indicate that potassium application enhances soybean productivity primarily through improved yield components rather than vegetative growth. It is concluded that 75 kg K ha⁻¹ is the optimum potassium rate for maximizing soybean yield under the agroecological conditions of Kabul, Afghanistan.
Rahmanullah Mansoor, Abdul ghani Ayubi, Mohammad Khalid Rashidi· International Journal of Cur...· 0 citations
The co-inoculation of Bacillus megaterium (CCT 2482) and Bacillus subtilis (CCT 3131) may improve plant phosphorus nutrition and agronomic performance under field conditions. This study evaluated the agronomic efficiency of co-inoculation via seed treatment, combined with different phosphate fertilizer doses, in the morphophysiological and productive performance of corn and soybean under distinct edaphoclimatic conditions. Eight trials (four per crop) were conducted during the 2023/2024 season in a randomized block design with eight treatments and four replications. In soybean, co-inoculation increased leaf phosphorus content, grain mass, number of pods per plant, thousand-grain weight, and yield, even with a 25% reduction in phosphate fertilization. In corn, it improved shoot and root biomass, grains per row, thousand-grain weight, and productivity. These results suggest that co-inoculation may contribute to phosphate fertilization management, although direct comparisons across fertilization levels indicate that its effect depends on crop, variables, and the environment. The bacterial strains exhibited strong potential for phosphate solubilization and plant growth promotion across varied environmental conditions, confirming their adaptability. Therefore, this approach may serve as a complementary strategy for phosphate fertilization management, contributing to improved agronomic performance and more sustainable agricultural production systems.
A. Zamarian, Ana Claudia Botelho, Ricardo Robson Trautmann et al.· Microorganisms· 0 citations
Evaluating biological strategies for reducing fertilizer use in grain sorghum through the application of Trichoderma harzianum combined with varying rates of nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizers found higher dry grain mass was attributed to higher photosynthetic activity, greater plant height and stem diameter, and increased fresh stem and leaf mass.
Cintia da Silva de Oliveira, Rikelme Matheus dos Santos Relvas, Rithielly Machado Rodrigues de Araújo et al.· Frontiers in Agronomy· 0 citations
Partial replacement of chemical fertilizers, particularly nitrogen fertilizers, with biological fertilizers is considered an effective strategy for reducing the negative environmental impacts associated with excessive fertilizer use. This study aimed to optimize N use through the application of bacterial-based biofertilizer, specifically plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR), in different maize cultivars under semi-arid conditions. A randomized complete block design (RCBD) arranged in a split-plot arrangement was used, with the three hybrids (Shahkar, Bumbus and DK 7024) assigned to the main plots and different N treatments allocated to sub-plots. The field experiment was conducted during two consecutive spring seasons (Feb to June 2024 and 2025). The N treatments were defined as follows: control, 100% recommended N (200 kg/ha), 100% N with Pseudomonas stutzeri, 100% N with Bacillus subtilis, 100% N with Enterobacter sp., 50% N with Pseudomonas stutzeri, 50% N with Bacillus subtilis, 50% N with Enterobacter sp., 100% Pseudomonas stutzeri, 100% Bacillus subtilis, and 100% Enterobacter sp. The N treatments included synthetic fertilizer alone at the 100% recommended N rate and a combination of 100%, 50% and 0% of recommended levels with three N-fixing bacterial strains. Among the hybrids, DK 7024 exhibited the highest 1000-grain weight (349 g and 362.5 g), grain yield (6756 and 6971 kg ha−1) and total dry matter (17,500 and 18,368 kg ha−1) in 2024 and 2025, respectively. Among N levels, maximum 1000-grain weight, grain yield and total dry matter were noticed in 100% N with Enterobacter sp.: 402 g, 8446 kg ha−1 and 21,656 kg ha−1 in 2024 and 421 g, 8684 kg ha−1 and 22,237 kg ha−1 in 2025. Nitrogen application increased grain yield and total dry matter production; however, the treatment combined with 100% recommended synthetic N fertilizer with biofertilizer (Enterobacter sp.) showed superior performance compared with 100% N applied through only the synthetic fertilizer. The interaction between maize hybrids and N levels was statistically non-significant, suggesting that 100% N plus biofertilizers could be an effective strategy for achieving higher yields across different maize cultivars. Additionally, the beneficial effects of PGPR may contribute to sustainable agricultural practices. Further research is recommended to evaluate strategies involving reduced-N inputs combined with biological fertilizer, including the application of 100% N with biofertilizer. The present study suggests that N application in combination with biofertilizers has the potential to improve crop growth while promoting sustainable crop production.
Sajjad Hussain, S. Qaisrani, Muhammad Mubeen et al.· Nitrogen· 0 citations
Maize is one of the most important agricultural crops globally and in Bosnia and Herzegovina, where cereals are cultivated on 204,368 ha, of which 57% (116,490 ha) is dedicated to maize production. The application of plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR), such as the genera Pseudomonas and Bacillus, represents a sustainable alternative to mineral fertilizers, particularly in phosphorus-deficient soils commonly found in Bosnia and Herzegovina. A field experiment with ten fertilization treatments, arranged in a randomized block design with three replications, was conducted to evaluate the effects of seed inoculation, organic fertilization, and mineral fertilization on silage maize production. Grain yield, ear characteristics, and nutrient concentrations in maize leaves and grain were determined using standard analytical methods. The highest grain yield (15.2 t ha⁻¹) was achieved with the combined application of organic fertilization (30 t ha⁻¹) and bacterial inoculation, with a statistically significant difference compared to the control treatment. The applied fertilization treatments improved nutrient uptake and increased the content of protein, nitrogen, phosphorus, and magnesium in the grain, while zinc concentration generally decreased, indicating an antagonistic relationship between phosphorus and zinc. The obtained results confirm the potential of combining rhizobacterial inoculation and organic fertilization to enhance maize productivity and improve plant nutrient status.
E. Sijahović, H. Čivić, D. Gadžo et al.· Works of the Faculty of Agri...· 0 citations