Application of phosphate solubilizing fungi and lime altered the soil inorganic phosphorus fractions in an Ultisol of north-eastern India. Issue 4 (4th July 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Alam, Khurshid; Barman, Mandira; Datta, Siba Prasad; Annapurna, Kannepalli; Shukla, Livleen; Ray, Prasenjit
• Is Part Of: Soil science and plant nutrition. Volume 68:Issue 4(2022)
• Page Start: 409
• Page End: 420
• Publication Date: 2022-07-04
• Subjects: Phosphate solubilizing microorganism -- phosphate solubilizing fungi (PSF) -- liming -- phosphorus fractionation -- ultisols; Soil science -- Periodicals; Plants -- Nutrition -- Periodicals; 631.4
• DOI: 10.1080/00380768.2022.2094204
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0038-0768

Abstract

ABSTRACT: The gradually dwindling reserves of rock phosphate, the primary material used in the manufacturing of phosphatic fertilizers, encourages researchers to look for ways to exploit the accumulated fixed P pool in soil. Phosphate solubilizing microorganisms (PSM) could be a viable option for addressing the problem at a lower cost. Keeping these in mind, the present study was undertaken to evaluate the changes in the distribution of P in soil as affected by P fertilization, phosphate solubilizing fungi (PSF) and liming vis-à-vis the contribution of these fractions toward P nutrition of a test crop soybean ( Glycine max L.). A bulk surface soil sample (0–15 cm) was obtained from Negheriting tea estate of Golaghat district of Assam, India (Ultisol, pH = 4.23) and after processing, three levels of P [0, 50, and 100% of recommended dose of P (RDP)], two levels of lime [No lime, 1/10 th of Lime Requirement (LR)] and two levels of PSF (No-PSF, PSF) were applied in a completely randomized design with three replications. Sequential P fractionation was done in the post-harvest soil. On an average, the abundance of different P fractions in the soil, expressed as % of total P, followed the order: residual P (67.5%)> Fe bound P (12.1%)> reductant soluble P (8.85%)> Al bound P (4.04%)> occluded P (3.79%)> Ca bound P (3.11%)> soluble and loosely bound P (0.46%). All the inorganic P fractions except the residual P, increased significantly with P fertilization. Either liming or PSF application significantly increased the soluble and loosely bound P fraction and decreased the Al bound and Fe bound P fractions in soil. Positive growth response of soybean was obtained due to the application of P, lime, and PSF. Liming increased the P uptake by 30.4% and dry matter yield of soybean by 18.5% over no liming. On the other hand, PSF inoculation increased the P uptake by 16.7% and dry matter yield by 7.77% over no inoculation. So, it is evident that in short term, either liming or PSF was able to solubilize the native soil P. Phosphorus×lime and lime×PSF interactions should also be exploited in future endeavors.