Performance of Egyptian Native Phosphate Solubilizing Bacteria for Improving Growth and Phosphorus Uptake of Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) Grown in a Calcareous Soil

A study was carried out to evaluate the potential of three isolated Egyptian native phosphate solubilizing bacteria (PSB) exhibiting phosphate-dissolution ability and indole acetic acid (IAA) production to test whether these bacteria are capable of increasing the available P in a calcareous soil treated with single superphosphate (SSP) and its uptake by wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) variety Gemiza-11. Therefore, a pot experiment trial using a calcareaous soil was conducted at the experimental farm of Arid Lands Cultivation Research Institute - City of Scientific Research and Technological Applications. The inoculated and uninoculated wheat seeds were sown on 1st, December, 2015 for 60 days. The isolates were Enterobacter aerogenes, Pantoea sp., Enterobacter sp., and their mixture in the ratio (1:1:1) were tested in combination with four levels of SSP (0%, 50%, 75% and 100% of recommended dose for wheat (150 kg/Fed.). Each treatment was set up in triplicate in a randomized complete block design. Phosphorus application or phosphorus solubilizing bacterial inoculation and their interaction significantly affected the plant dry weight, available P in soil and P uptake. Co-inoculation of these PSB strains (mixed culture) could act synergistically and were responsible for the increase in plant growth, P uptake and available P in soil in comparison with single inoculation. Accordingly, we can reduce SSP application to 75% of recommended dosage + inoculation with mixed culture of these PSB with significant promotion of wheat growth more than application of 100% SSP of recommended dosage without PSB inoculation to save chemical fertilizer application and maintain environment and soil health.