Potential of nitrogen-fixing and phosphate-solubilizing rhizobacteria from indigenous dryland flora

Abstract

Abstract Rhizobacteria inhabit the root area of flora and can act as nitrogen fixers and phosphate solvents. This study aims to determine the potential of indigenous dryland rhizobacteria for fixing dissolved nitrogen and phosphate in an artificial medium. Rhizobacteria isolated from rice varieties Inpago 12 and understorey (Eleusine indica L.) have the potential for nitrogen fixation and phosphate solubility. The outcome of morphological observations obtained two types of NFB isolates from each isolate source, while PSB obtained three types of isolates. The highest total NFB population was in the T1J1 isolate at 1.46 x 105 CFU/g, while the highest PSB was in the U2P2 isolate at 8.2 x 104 CFU/g. Further study is needed to determine the potential of rhizobacteria from rice varieties Inpago 12 and understorey (Eleusine indica L.) in dryland for quantitative nitrogen fixation and phosphate solubility.