Enhancing Uptake of K and Zn and Improving Yield of Groundnut by Application of K- and Zn- Solubilizing Bacteria

Abstract

Background: Potassium and zinc are important with respect to mineral nutrition of groundnut and play a significant role in physiological and biochemical processes and thus affect productivity. To make these important minerals available to the growing plants in calcareous soil having fixation problem, the current investigation was undertaken to identify both K- and Zn-solubilizing bacteria for improving growth, nutrient uptake and yield of groundnut. Methods: Soil samples were collected from groundnut rhizosphere during 2018 for the isolation of Zn- and K- solubilizing bacteria. Estimation for Zn- and K-solubilization was done using zinc phosphate and potassium aluminosilicate as insoluble form of Zn and K, respectively. Promising Zn and K solubilizing bacterial isolates were selected and evaluated in pots. Result: Inoculation of different isolates of KSB and ZSB improved K and Zn contents of shoot and seed during summer and kharif 2019. Evaluation of KSB and ZSB isolates, in potted condition, resulted in improved pod yield upto 39.6% (KSB) and upto 37.1% (ZSB) during summer and upto 24.1% and 25.1% during kharif 2019, respectively. Therefore, uptake of Zn- and K- and yield of groundnut can be enhanced significantly by application of both potential ZSB and KSB.