Phosphate solubilizing bacterial inoculation on seeds and fertilizers for improved wheat yield in semiarid field conditions

Global warming stimulates soil salinization and calcification, resulting in phosphorus (P) deficiency in arid and semiarid regions worldwide. Phosphate-solubilizing bacteria ( PSB) can enhance phosphorus availability, but their role has been less explored under arid and semiarid climatic conditions. A two-year consecutive field experiment was conducted to assess the effectiveness of PSB loading onto seeds, organic, and mineral fertilizers. The trial followed a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications for each treatment. There were five treatments: T1 was the uninoculated control with no fertilizer ( Control), T2 was uninoculated with recommended NPK (NPK), T3 was PSB-inoculated wheat seeds (PSB-Seed), T4 was PSB- inoculated organic fertilizer ( PSB-OF), and T5 was PSB-inoculated mineral fertilizer ( PSB- MF). Results revealed that inoculation with PSB onto seeds, organic, or mineral fertilizer had a more pronounced impact not only on the vegetative development and yield of wheat but also on P contents in grains. It was observed that the PSB-inoculated mineral fertilizer treatment responded well, showing noticeable wheat biomass accumulation, grain yield, and improved P uptake in grain and straw. Interestingly, the highest uptake of nitrogen ( N) in wheat grain was observed with both PSB-inoculated organic fertilizer treatment and PSB- inoculated mineral fertilizer treatment, highlighting the efficacy of slow- release nitrogen from organic fertilizer in addition to the impact of PSB. In conclusion, PSB inoculation on organic or mineral fertilizer has substantial potential in enhancing crop productivity and combating P deficiency in arid and semi-arid regions.Global warming stimulates soil salinization and calcification, resulting in phosphorus (P) deficiency in arid and semiarid regions worldwide. Phosphate-solubilizing bacteria ( PSB) can enhance phosphorus availability, but their role has been less explored under arid and semiarid climatic conditions. A two-year consecutive field experiment was conducted to assess the effectiveness of PSB loading onto seeds, organic, and mineral fertilizers. The trial followed a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications for each treatment. There were five treatments: T1 was the uninoculated control with no fertilizer ( Control), T2 was uninoculated with recommended NPK (NPK), T3 was PSB-inoculated wheat seeds (PSB-Seed), T4 was PSB- inoculated organic fertilizer ( PSB-OF), and T5 was PSB-inoculated mineral fertilizer ( PSB- MF). Results revealed that inoculation with PSB onto seeds, organic, or mineral fertilizer had a more pronounced impact not only on the vegetative development and yield of wheat but also on P contents in grains. It was observed that the PSB-inoculated mineral fertilizer treatment responded well, showing noticeable wheat biomass accumulation, grain yield, and improved P uptake in grain and straw. Interestingly, the highest uptake of nitrogen ( N) in wheat grain was observed with both PSB-inoculated organic fertilizer treatment and PSB- inoculated mineral fertilizer treatment, highlighting the efficacy of slow- release nitrogen from organic fertilizer in addition to the impact of PSB. In conclusion, PSB inoculation on organic or mineral fertilizer has substantial potential in enhancing crop productivity and combating P deficiency in arid and semi-arid regions.