Evaluating the Combined Effect of Organic Carriers and PGPR on the Growth of Groundnut Plant

Abstract

In the current situation, there is a growing interest in reducing the use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides for the development of organic agriculture. The use of plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) is an environmentally friendly alternative that can improve soil conditions and increase ecosystem productivity. However, the impact of biochar and PGPR fertilization on forest plantations is not well understood. Mass production of agricultural by-products, i.e. pressmud, these are either burned or thrown directly into landfills. Management of agricultural by-products can be managed by turning them into value-added products such as soil conditioners, compost, single-cell proteins, enzymes, organic acids, biogas, wax, growing materials etc. This study focuses on the management of press mud by converting sugar industry by-products and biochar the by-product of pyrolysis of mainly plant waste material into various value-added solutions. Therefore, this study focuses on the agro-industrial by-products of pressed mud and biochar for value-added products. It is not only environmentally friendly, but also economical. The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of biochar, press mud and PGPR application on soil nutrients and bacterial communities. To achieve this goal, we used following treatments of only seed and seed + PGPR as controls and 1%, 3%, 5% and 7% of biochar and 1%, 5%, 10% and 15% of press mud with PGPR and without PGPR. For each plant sample, various physical and biochemical properties (Plant height, root length, shoot length, number of leaves, number of shoots, no of roots, dry weight and fresh weight) (Sugar content, total chlorophyll, protein content and proline content) were analysed. The results showed that the simultaneous application of biochar, press mud and PGPR fertilization significantly increased soil fertility as compare to that of control. Biochar and press mud treatment also improved physical and biochemical parameters of ground nut plant as compare to control plant.