Study of Silicate-Solubilizing Microorganisms Impact on the Dissolution of Soil Non-Exchangeable Potassium, Growth Indices of Maize (Zea mays L.), and Nutrient Uptake

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Researcher of soil and water department, West Azarbaijan Agricultural and Natural Resources Research and Education Center

2 Urmia university

3 Agriculture Dean

4 Assistant

5 Urmia University

10.30466/asr.2025.55524.1858

Abstract

The rapid advancement of agricultural practices has led to a significant decline in the levels of available potassium in the soil. This decline, coupled with the annual rise in the prices of potassium-based chemical fertilizers and their imbalanced application, poses serious challenges to sustainable agriculture. Additionally, the detrimental effects of these fertilizers on the environment further emphasize the urgent need for alternative approaches. One promising solution is the utilization of native potassium found in the soil. To this end, harnessing the ability of effective microbial strains in dissolving non-exchangeable forms of potassium (K) can play a vital role in enhancing soil fertility and promoting sustainable agricultural practices. This study aimed to evaluate the potential of potassium-solubilizing microorganisms (KSMs) in solubilizing and releasing soil insoluble potassium, the availability of other essential nutrients, and the growth indices of maize (Zea mays L.). The research utilized a completely randomized design for the experimental setup. The treatments included microbial inoculation with either bacterium or fungus (Pseudomonas fluorescens and Aspergillus niger), as well as two control groups: Cont+ (which included potassium without inoculation) and Cont- (which lacked both inoculation and potassium. The results of the study demonstrated a significant impact of microbial inoculation on plant growth indices and nutrient concentrations in the soil, as well as in the shoot and roots of the plants. Notably, the highest recorded plant height (54.5 cm) and stem diameter (0.64 cm) were observed in the group subjected to bacterial inoculation. These measurements represented increases of 18.1% and 18.2%, respectively, when compared to the Cont- treatment. The dry weight of plants shoots significantly increased under bacterial inoculation, with increases of 1.8 times and 1.4 times compared to the Cont- and Cont+ treatments, respectively. In contrast, fungal inoculation resulted in increases of 1.5 times and 1.2 times in comparison to the same control treatments. Additionally, bacterial inoculation exerted a considerable effect on the levels of soluble potassium and available phosphorus in the soil. Specifically, the concentrations of soluble potassium and available phosphorus were 1.2 times and 1.3 times higher, respectively, under bacterial inoculation than under fungal treatment. The concentration of exchangeable potassium rose by 30.1% in the presence of bacteria and by 5.1% in the presence of fungi when compared to the Cont- treatment. These findings suggest that the presence of KSMs contributes to plant growth enhancement by facilitating the release of potassium from potassium-bearing minerals.

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References

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History

  • Receive Date: 22 August 2024
  • Revise Date: 08 December 2024
  • Accept Date: 10 December 2024

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