Combined Application of Organic and Inorganic Nitrogen and Seed Inoculation with Rhizobacteria (Stenotrophomonas maltophilia FA-9) Improved Productivity, Nitrogen Use Efficiency, and Economic Returns of Pearl Millet

Nitrogen (N) availability and soil microbiota exert significant impacts on plant metabolic systems and yield. Different studies have indicated that yield and nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) of pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum L.R.Br.) can be improved by the inoculation of N-fixing bacteria. However, the interactive effects of different N sources and bacteria inoculation on growth, productivity, and NUE of pearl millet have been less explored. Therefore, individual and interactive effects of different N sources (organic and inorganic) and bacteria inoculation on growth, productivity, and NUE of pearl millet were investigated in this study. Two different N sources, i.e., organic (farmyard manure) and inorganic (urea) alone or in 50% + 50% combinations (urea + FYM), were used to supply the recommended amount of N. Similarly, seeds were inoculated with two different N-fixing bacteria, i.e., endobacteria (Enterobacter sp. MN17) and rhizobacteria (Stenotrophomonas maltophilia FA-9). Urea + farmyard manure (FYM) and seed inoculation rhizobacteria improved soil attributes, yield-related traits, grain quality, NUE, and net economic returns. Soil porosity was significantly improved by seed inoculation with both bacteria and FYM application. Similarly, seed inoculation with rhizobacteria increased soil organic carbon by 45.45% and 34.88% during the 1st and 2nd year of the study, respectively. Urea + FYM application combined with rhizobacteria seed inoculation improved the number of grains per ear (23.49 and 23.63%), 1000-grain weight (5.76% and 7.85%), grain yield (23.19% and 25.0%), and NUE (33.83 and 48.15%). Similarly, grain quality was significantly improved by seed inoculation with both bacteria. Likewise, urea + FYM combined with rhizobacteria improved nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) by 33.83% and 48.15% in 2020 and 2021, respectively, compared to no N application and no seed inoculation. The highest economic returns (1506.4 and 1506.9 USD) were noted for urea + FYM application combined with rhizobacteria seed inoculation. Therefore, urea + FYM application combined with rhizobacteria (S. maltophilia FA-9) seed inoculation seemed a viable approach to improve grain yield, grain quality, NUE, and net economic returns of pearl millet.

[1]  S. Bulut,et al.  Determination of Efficiency Parameters of Barley Inoculated with Phosphorous-solubilizing and Nitrogen-fixing Bacteria , 2022, Gesunde Pflanzen.

[2]  A. Majeed,et al.  Combined Application of Inorganic and Organic Phosphorous with Inoculation of Phosphorus Solubilizing Bacteria Improved Productivity, Grain Quality and Net Economic Returns of Pearl Millet (Pennisetum glaucum [L.] R. Br.) , 2022, Agronomy.

[3]  E. Yıldırım.  Effects of Plant Growth-Promoting Rhizobacteria (PGPR) and Different Fertilizer Combinations on Yield and Quality Properties in Cauliflower (Brassica oleracea L. var. botrytis)* , 2022, Akademik Ziraat Dergisi.

[4]  V. Tonapi,et al.  Performance and Stability of Pearl Millet Varieties for Grain Yield and Micronutrients in Arid and Semi-Arid Regions of India , 2021, Frontiers in Plant Science.

[5]  V. Voltr,et al.  The Soil Organic Matter in Connection with Soil Properties and Soil Inputs , 2021 .

[6]  M. Mabelebele,et al.  The nutritional use of millet grain for food and feed: a review , 2021, Agriculture & food security.

[7]  A. Hilali,et al.  Nitrogen Fixing Azotobacter Species as Potential Soil Biological Enhancers for Crop Nutrition and Yield Stability , 2021, Frontiers in Microbiology.

[8]  A. Rathore,et al.  Genetic Variation for Nitrogen Use Efficiency Traits in Global Diversity Panel and Parents of Mapping Populations in Pearl Millet , 2021, Frontiers in Plant Science.

[9]  R. Singh,et al.  Complete Genome Sequence of Enterobacter roggenkampii ED5, a Nitrogen Fixing Plant Growth Promoting Endophytic Bacterium With Biocontrol and Stress Tolerance Properties, Isolated From Sugarcane Root , 2020, Frontiers in Microbiology.

[10]  Xiaodong Chen,et al.  Effects of Different Organic Materials Application on Soil Physicochemical Properties in a Primary Saline-Alkali Soil , 2020, Eurasian Soil Science.

[11]  A. Olayanju,et al.  Different organic manure sources and NPK fertilizer on soil chemical properties, growth, yield and quality of okra , 2020, Scientific Reports.

[12]  Golla Begizew.  Role of integrated nutrient management for enhancing nitrogen use efficiency in crop , 2020, Open Journal of Plant Science.

[13]  B. Jha,et al.  Plant growth promoting rhizobacterium Stenotrophomonas maltophilia BJ01 augments endurance against N2 starvation by modulating physiology and biochemical activities of Arachis hypogea , 2019, PloS one.

[14]  S. S. Dhaliwal,et al.  Dynamics and transformations of micronutrients in agricultural soils as influenced by organic matter build-up: A review , 2019, Environmental and Sustainability Indicators.

[15]  Nikolaos P. Nikolaidis,et al.  Soil Functions: Connecting Earth's Critical Zone , 2019, Annual Review of Earth and Planetary Sciences.

[16]  A. Tiwari,et al.  Effect of Integrated Nutrient Management (INM) on Physico-Chemical Properties of Soil, Available Content and Nutrient Uptake by Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus) , 2019, International Journal of Current Microbiology and Applied Sciences.

[17]  Vineet Kumar,et al.  Long-term effect of organic and inorganic Fertilizers on soil physico-chemical properties of a silty clay loam soil under rice-wheat cropping system in Tarai region of Uttarakhand , 2019 .

[18]  R. E. Danielson,et al.  Porosity , 2018, SSSA Book Series.

[19]  K. H. Hartge,et al.  Bulk Density , 2018, SSSA Book Series.

[20]  S. Ruppel,et al.  Successful Formulation and Application of Plant Growth-Promoting Kosakonia radicincitans in Maize Cultivation , 2018, BioMed research international.

[21]  A. Nawaz,et al.  Economic assessment of conventional and conservation tillage practices in different wheat-based cropping systems of Punjab, Pakistan , 2017, Environmental Science and Pollution Research.

[22]  Yuncong C. Li,et al.  Effects of Plant Growth-Promoting Rhizobacteria and N Source on Plant Growth and N and P Uptake by Tomato Grown on Calcareous Soils , 2017 .

[23]  R. Singh,et al.  Genetic Diversity of Nitrogen-Fixing and Plant Growth Promoting Pseudomonas Species Isolated from Sugarcane Rhizosphere , 2017, Front. Microbiol..

[24]  A. Haile,et al.  Effects of altitude and harvesting dates on morphological characteristics, yield and nutritive value of desho grass (Pennisetum pedicellatum Trin.) in Ethiopia , 2017 .

[25]  Faisal Mahmood,et al.  Effects of organic and inorganic manures on maize and their residual impact on soil physico-chemical properties , 2017 .

[26]  Arvind Kumar,et al.  Effect of Integrated nutrient management ( INM ) on soil properties , yield and economics of rice ( Oryza sativa L . ) , 2017 .

[27]  C. T. Hash,et al.  Overcoming Phosphorus Deficiency in West African Pearl Millet and Sorghum Production Systems: Promising Options for Crop Improvement , 2016, Front. Plant Sci..

[28]  M. Oves,et al.  Bacteria and fungi can contribute to nutrients bioavailability and aggregate formation in degraded soils. , 2016, Microbiological research.

[29]  Deepti Khatri,et al.  Biofertilization Enhances Productivity and Nutrient Uptake of Foxtail Millet Plants , 2016 .

[30]  Siliang Huang,et al.  Nitrogen-Fixing and Plant Growth-Promoting Ability of Two Endophytic Bacterial Strains Isolated from Sugarcane Stalks , 2016, Sugar Tech.

[31]  D. Cordell,et al.  Tracking phosphorus security: indicators of phosphorus vulnerability in the global food system , 2015, Food Security.

[32]  A. Buerkert,et al.  EFFECT OF FERTILISER AND IRRIGATION ON FORAGE YIELD AND IRRIGATION WATER USE EFFICIENCY IN SEMI-ARID REGIONS OF PAKISTAN , 2015, Experimental Agriculture.

[33]  S. Lebeis.  The potential for give and take in plant–microbiome relationships , 2014, Front. Plant Sci..

[34]  E. Yıldırım,et al.  Plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria improved growth, nutrient, and hormone content of cabbage (Brassica oleracea) seedlings , 2014 .

[35]  Michael Wachendorf,et al.  Fertilizer and irrigation effects on forage protein and energy production under semi-arid conditions of Pakistan , 2014 .

[36]  M. Ragan,et al.  A new species of Burkholderia isolated from sugarcane roots promotes plant growth , 2013, Microbial biotechnology.

[37]  Sanjeev Kumar,et al.  Effect of Biofertilizers on Yield and Biomolecules of Anti-cancerous Vegetable Broccoli , 2014 .

[38]  Qing Zhou,et al.  Enterobacter sacchari sp. nov., a nitrogen-fixing bacterium associated with sugar cane (Saccharum officinarum L.). , 2013, International journal of systematic and evolutionary microbiology.

[39]  S. Bulut.  Evaluation of efficiency parameters of phosphorous-solubilizing and N-fixing bacteria inoculations in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) , 2013 .

[40]  J. Domínguez,et al.  Short-term effects of organic and inorganic fertilizers on soil microbial community structure and function , 2013, Biology and Fertility of Soils.

[41]  Bernard R. Glick,et al.  Plant Growth-Promoting Bacteria: Mechanisms and Applications , 2012, Scientifica.

[42]  P. N. Bhattacharyya,et al.  Plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR): emergence in agriculture , 2012, World journal of microbiology & biotechnology.

[43]  V. Vadez,et al.  Using genetic mapping and genomics approaches in understanding and improving drought tolerance in pearl millet. , 2011, Journal of experimental botany.

[44]  M. Alfaro,et al.  Nitrogen losses under different cattle grazing frequencies and intensities in a volcanic soil of southern Chile , 2010 .

[45]  S. S. Dhaliwal,et al.  Long-Term Effect of Integrated Nutrient Management of Properties of Typic Ustochrept After 23 Cycles of an Irrigated Rice (Oryza sativa L.) – Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) System , 2010 .

[46]  Safdar Ali,et al.  Soil beneficial bacteria and their role in plant growth promotion: a review , 2010, Annals of Microbiology.

[47]  N. Fageria,et al.  Foliar Fertilization of Crop Plants , 2009 .

[48]  I. Shamsi,et al.  Enhancing crop growth, nutrients availability, economics and beneficial rhizosphere microflora through organic and biofertilizers , 2007, Annals of Microbiology.

[49]  C. Nautiyal,et al.  Novel mechanism of modulating natural antioxidants in functional foods: involvement of plant growth promoting Rhizobacteria NRRL B-30488. , 2008, Journal of agricultural and food chemistry.

[50]  Jing Chen,et al.  New advances in plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria for bioremediation. , 2007, Environment international.

[51]  G. Reddy,et al.  Application of plant growth-promoting bacteria associated with composts and macrofauna for growth promotion of Pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum L.) , 2006, Biology and Fertility of Soils.

[52]  Hyoungseok Lee,et al.  Isolation and characterization of diazotrophic growth promoting bacteria from rhizosphere of agricultural crops of Korea. , 2005, Microbiological research.

[53]  S. Wani,et al.  Association between N2-fixing bacteria and pearl millet plants: Responses, mechanisms and persistence , 1988, Plant and Soil.

[54]  S. Grego,et al.  Influence of organic and mineral fertilisers on soil biological and physical properties , 2000 .

[55]  William R. Raun,et al.  Improving Nitrogen Use Efficiency for Cereal Production , 1999 .

[56]  Dennis C. Wilson.  Endophyte: The Evolution of a Term, and Clarification of Its Use and Definition , 1995 .

[57]  S. Wani,et al.  Response of Pearl Millet Cultivars to Inoculation with Nitrogen-fixing Bacteria , 1985, Experimental Agriculture.

[58]  B. Turgeon,et al.  Early Events in the Infection of Soybean (Glycine max L. Merr) by Rhizobium japonicum: I. LOCALIZATION OF INFECTIBLE ROOT CELLS. , 1980, Plant physiology.

[59]  S. E. Allen,et al.  A wet oxidation procedure suitable for the determination of nitrogen and mineral nutrients in biological material , 1975 .

[60]  P. Poonkodi,et al.  RESPONSE OF PEARL MILLET TO INTEGRATED USE OF ORGANICS AND FERTILIZERS , 1970 .

[61]  J. M. Bremner.  Determination of nitrogen in soil by the Kjeldahl method , 1960, The Journal of Agricultural Science.

[62]  A. Walkley,et al.  AN EXAMINATION OF THE DEGTJAREFF METHOD FOR DETERMINING SOIL ORGANIC MATTER, AND A PROPOSED MODIFICATION OF THE CHROMIC ACID TITRATION METHOD , 1934 .