Effect of Phosphate-solubilizing Bacteria and Phosphate- solubilizing Fungi on Growth and Yield of Cabbage (Brassica oleaceae var. capitata L.)

Abstract

Cabbage (Brassica Oleaceae var. capitata L.) is one of the most important members of genus the Brassica. After the Green Revolution, modern farming has mainly depended on high yielding seed varieties along with heavy use of chemical fertilizers. The repeated, excessive, and unbalanced application of these fertilizers leads to environmental pollution, causing harm to both soil and water resources. Application of phosphorous solubilizing microorganism in the field has been reported to increase crop yield. Phosphorous solubilizing bacteria and fungi, as a biofertilizer offer a sustainable approach to boost production while reducing dependency on chemical fertilizers. The present study aimed to determine the effect of phosphate - solubilizing bacteria and phosphate- solubilizing fungi on growth and yield of Cabbage (Brassica Oleaceae var. capitata L.). A total of twenty-nine rhizospheric soil samples of cabbage were collected from Kolhapur district. Four isolates of Phosphate solubilizing bacteria and five isolates of Phosphate solubilizing fungi were obtained from these samples. All isolates were identified on the basis of morphological, cultural, microscopic features and different biochemical tests. The results of yield parameters revealed that the treatment T4, Efficient strain of PSB + 75% P2O5 recorded maximum performance resulted in the highest performance recorded maximum plant height (28.82 cm), number of jacket leaves (29.58) and stem diameter(28.32) head diameter (15.32 cm), head weight (1.62 Kg) and yield (276.68q/ha) which was statistically at par with treatment T5, Efficient strain of PSB+100%RDF, Plant height (27.62 cm), no. of jacket leaves (28.45 cm) and stem diameter (27.42 cm) head diameter (14.20 cm), head weight (1.53 Kg), and yield (274.97 q/ha). followed by treatment T8, Efficient strain of PSF + 100% RDF, Plant height (26.77 cm), No. of jacket leaves (27.54) and stem diameter (26.36 mm). head diameter (13.48 cm), head weight (1.40 Kg), and yield (271.48 q/ha). The treatment T4, recorded maximum available N (272.52kg/ha), P (36.70 kg/ha) and K (194.46 kg/ha), which was significantly at par with Treatment T5, available N (265.07kg/ha), P (35.69 kg/ha) and K (190.99kg/ha) followed by treatment T8, available N (254.84kg/ha), P (33.32 kg/ha) and K (187.15 kg/ha) in the soil after harvesting of cabbage.