Unlocking the potential plant growth-promoting properties of chickpea
(Cicer arietinum L.) seed endophytes bio-inoculants for improving the
soil health and crop production
Abstract
Sustainable agronomic practices are tried all over the world to promote
safe and eco-friendly crop production. Therefore, in the present study,
the effect of seed endophytic bacteria and its consortia on soil
biochemical property, soil nutrient, and yield of chickpea (Cicer
arietinum L.) under field and pot conditions are investigated. Both the
experimental results proved a significant increase in total soil organic
carbon (OC), electric conductivity (EC), organic matter (OM), soil
nutrient like available N, P and K content and important soil enzymes
like dehydrogenase (DHA), beta glucosidase, alkaline phosphate, and
urease was observed under the Enterobacter hormaechei BHUJPCS-15 (T1),
Enterobacter cloacae BHUJPCS-21 (T2) and combined T3 (consortia of T1
and T2) treatments. Similarly, a significant increase in the grain yield
(27-45% and 57-73%) in microbial treatment was found in pot and field
experiments, respectively than control. In addition, whereas the higher
plant biomass (14-38% and 42-78%) was recorded in the treated plant
over the control plant. Similarly, the plant photosynthetic pigment (Chl
a, b, total Chl) were also increased in the microbial treated plant than
the control untreated chickpea plant. Our present study highlights the
significance of sustainable agronomic practices for improving the soil
quality and agricultural yield while reducing adverse impacts of
chemicals by the use of seed endophytic microbes and their consortia.