Studies on Isolation of Plant Growth Promoting Azotobacter spp from Soil Samples

Abstract

Soil is the heterogeneous mixture of different kinds of microorganisms. Soil provides nutritive environment for the growth of microorganisms. One of the soil microbes is Azotobacter. The aim of present study was to isolate plant growth promoting Azotobacter spp. In the present study, 25 soil samples were collected from different locations of Akola and Akot region. In the study, 10 Azotobacter spp. were isolated. Azotobacter spp. was checked for phosphate solubilizing ability, stress tolerance (Temperature, pH, Salt), Nitrate Reduction, Cyst formation by using Burks medium and Indole Acetic Acid production using L- Tryptophan. Amongst the 10 isolates all were found to reduced nitrate, NH3 formation ability and IAA production, while two isolates H3 and C5 were only found to be have phosphate solubilizing ability. The seed germination test was also performed, Azotobacter showed promising results on the moth beans. The result reveals that Azotobacter could be a better source for crop improvement and soil fertility over the use of chemical fertilizers.