Isolation and characterization of phosphate-solubilizing bacteria from walnut and their effect on growth and phosphorus mobilization

The objectives of this work were to isolate and characterize walnut phosphate-solubilizing bacteria (PSB) and to evaluate the effect of inoculation with the selected PSB stains to walnut seedlings fertilized with or without insoluble phosphate. Thirty-four PSB strains were isolated and identified under the genera Pseudomonas, Stenotrophomonas, Bacillus, Cupriavidus, Agrobacterium, Acinetobacter, Arthrobacter, Pantoea, and Rhodococcus through a comparison of the 16S ribosomal DNA sequences. All isolated PSB strains could solubilize tricalcium phosphate (TCP) in solid and liquid media. Phosphate-solubilizing activity of these strains was associated with a drop in the pH of medium. A significantly negative linear correlation was found between culture pH and phosphorus (P) solubilized from inorganic phosphate. Three isolates Pseudomonas chlororaphis (W24), Bacillus cereus (W9), and Pseudomonas fluorescens (W12) were selected for shade house assays because of their higher phosphate-solubilizing abilities. Under shade house conditions, application of W24 or W12 remarkably improved plant height, shoot and root dry weight, and P and nitrogen (N) uptake of walnut seedlings. These increases were higher on combined inoculation of PSB with TCP addition. The most pronounced beneficial effect on growth of walnut plants was observed in the co-inoculation of the three PSB strains with TCP addition. In comparison, the isolate of W9 failed to increase available soil P, nutrient levels in plants, or to promote plant growth, suggesting that more insoluble phosphate compounds than tricalcium phosphate should be used as substrates to assess the phosphate-solubilizing ability of PSB under greenhouse conditions. The present results indicated that strains P. chlororaphis or P. fluorescens could be considered for the formulation of new inoculants of walnut, even of more woody plants.     

酸性土壤中解磷菌的分离及其促生效果研究

酸性土壤中磷易被固定,磷的生物有效性极低。解磷菌对土壤中难溶性磷具有重要的增溶作用。虽然已有不少解磷菌方面的研究,但是主要集中于中性和石灰性土壤中钙磷的解磷菌报道,而关于酸性土壤中高效溶解铝磷的微生物报道较少。采用培养基和土培试验,首先对酸性土壤上不同植物（胡枝子、大豆、水稻）根际土壤中的解磷菌进行了分离,然后比较了它们对不同磷源（磷酸钙和磷酸铝）的溶解能力,最后研究了它们对大豆生长和磷吸收的影响。通过使用难溶性磷源（磷酸钙和磷酸铝）的固体培养基,分离得到5株优势菌株L1、S1、S2、R1和R2,经16S rRNA序列鉴定,L1属于阮杆菌属（Nguyenibacter）,S1和S2分别属于假单胞菌属（Pseudomonas）和沙雷氏菌属（Serratia）,R1和R2分别属于伯克氏菌属（Burkholderia）和雷尔氏菌属（Ralstonia）。菌株S1、S2、R1和R2对难溶性磷酸钙有较强的溶解能力,对磷酸铝的溶解能力较弱;菌株L1对磷酸铝表现出较高的溶解能力,对难溶性磷酸钙的溶解能力弱。联合接种菌株L1+S1对大豆生长和磷吸收表现出良好的促进效果,而单独接种L1和S1效果不显著。...     

磷细菌在复垦土壤上生长规律及对磷解析特性的影响

为了解磷细菌在山西采煤塌陷复垦土壤上的应用效果,以采煤塌陷复垦土壤为研究对象,通过室内培养方法,设空白对照,探索了施有机肥(M)、磷细菌(B)、磷细菌+葡萄糖(BG)、磷细菌+尿素(BU)、磷细菌+葡萄糖+尿素(BGU)、磷细菌+葡萄糖+尿素+有机肥(BGUM)对磷细菌生长和土壤养分、磷吸附解吸的影响,其中磷细菌菌液浓度为1.2×108 CFU·m L?1,接种量为5 m L·盆?1。结果表明:在培养周期内各处理磷细菌数量呈先增加后减少的趋势,BGUM处理磷细菌数量远高于其他处理;培养的60 d内BGUM处理土壤磷细菌数量由最初的1.0×106 CFU·g?1降到3.3×104 CFU·g?1,60 d后,BGUM处理磷细菌数量分别是BGU、BG、BU、B处理的300倍、367倍、1 650倍、3 300倍。M、B和BGUM处理复垦土壤有效磷含量分别比CK处理增加172.27 mg·kg?1、3.00 mg·kg?1和188.9 mg·kg?1,施用有机肥或者接种磷细菌可以显著增加土壤有效磷含量,葡萄糖、尿素、有机肥与磷细菌配合施用对复垦土壤有效磷增加的效果更显著。随着外加磷源浓度的增加,各处理复垦土壤吸磷量和解吸磷量都呈现增加的趋势,Langmuir等温吸附方程是描述各处理等温吸附特征的最佳方法;与CK相比,BGUM处理土壤最大吸磷量降低幅度最大,减少119.05 mg·kg?1,吸附常数也显著降低,BGUM处理复垦土壤磷的平均解吸率为33.20%,显著高于其他处理(P0.05)。因此,在各处理中,BGUM处理土壤磷细菌数量最多,对复垦土壤有效磷的增加效果最显著,对土壤最大缓冲容量和平均解吸率影响最大。BGUM处理是磷细菌在复垦土壤上应用的最佳选择,即在复垦土壤上施用磷细菌时,应该与合适的碳源、氮源及有机肥共同配合施用。     

Citric acid enhances the mobilization of organic phosphorus in subtropical and tropical forest soils

Low-molecular-weight organic acids are considered to be effective in the release of inorganic phosphorus (P) but their effectiveness to mobilize organic P is not well understood. The aim of this study was to examine the role of three common organic acids (maleic, oxalic, and citric acids) in mobilizing organic P in forest soils. Soil samples tested in this study were collected from either native or plantation forests in subtropical and tropical Australia with 16–87% of soil total P being in organic form. At a concentration of 10 mM organic acid kg^?1 soil, all three organic acids did not enhance the release of inorganic P as compared with water, whereas the three organic acids displayed different capacities in mobilizing organic P. Citric acid significantly enhanced the solubilization of organic P by 34.7% as compared with water; whereas no significant differences were observed in the mobilization of organic P among maleic acid, oxalic acids, and water. The amount of organic P solubilized by citric acid was not correlated with soil pH but increased with increasing soil organic P as the values were below 200 mg kg.^?1 The possible mechanisms of the effective mobilization of organic P by citric acid were discussed. Our results implied that organic P might play an important role in P nutrition of plants in subtropical and tropical forests due to its substantial proportion in soil P and the effective mobilization by organic acids.     

根际ACC脱氨酶活性细菌的分离及其促生作用研究

从不同来源的植物根际土壤中分离出能以1-氨基环丙烷-1-羧酸(ACC)为唯一氮源生长的细菌4株,经测定均具有较高的ACC脱氨酶活性,并进一步研究了菌株对植物的促生长作用。首先进行了种子根长试验,利用菌株菌悬液处理玉米和番茄种子,结果表明,经过细菌1101、2101、4201和GXGD002处理,种子的生根长度较对照组均有明显增长,玉米种子根长相对伸长率依次为78.73%、61.72%、47.37%、47.08%;番茄种子根长相对伸长率依次为61.19%、55.84%、54.34%、51.19%。其次进行了番茄穴盘栽培试验,分别在播种后40 d和55 d收苗,测定植株的株高、茎粗、根长等生长指标,结果表明,菌株4201和GXGD002具有显著促进生长作用,其处理组植株在株高、根长、根系活力等方面较对照组均有明显增强。     

一株根际解磷菌的筛选鉴定及溶磷促生作用

从黄河三角洲地区盐碱化耕地的 5 种农作物根际土壤中分离筛选高效解磷菌,为开发盐碱地生物肥料提供菌种资源。结合解磷圈筛选法和钼锑抗比色法评价菌株的解磷能力;采用含不同 NaCl 浓度的 LB 培养基测定菌株的耐盐性。利用菌株的形态学特征、生理生化特性和 16S rDNA 基因序列分析方法进行鉴定;采用液体摇床培养试验测定菌株对多种难溶性磷源的溶解能力。以盐碱化土壤为供试土壤,检验菌株在盐碱土壤中的应用潜力。共分离出 27 株解磷细菌,其中菌株 B19 被鉴定为杓兰泛菌(Pantoea cypripedii),该菌在 0% ～ 4% 的 NaCl 浓度下生长良好,最高可耐受 6% 的盐浓度。B19 具有较强的解磷能力,在 Ca₃(PO₄)₂为磷源的无机磷固体培养基上30 ℃培养 3 d 解磷圈的直径(D)为 18 mm,与菌落直径(d)比达 3.17;PVK 液体培养试验表明,菌株 B19 对多种难溶性磷源都有较强的溶解能力,对 Ca₃(PO₄)₂、AlPO...     

Enhancement of maize plant growth with inoculation of phosphate-solubilizing bacteria and biochar amendment in soil

Maize plant has an absolute requirement of nutrients (N, P, and K) for growth and development. The microbial application can facilitate in addressing limited access to chemical fertilizer concern. Moreover, biochar and phosphorus-solubilizing bacterial (PSB) community can contribute together in nutrient availability. Both have the P-supply potential to the soil, but their interaction has been tested less under semiarid climatic conditions. The purpose of the study was to evaluate the potential of biochemically tested promising PSB strains and biochar for maize plant growth and nutritional status in plant and soil. Therefore, two isolated PSB strains from maize rhizosphere were biochemically tested in vitro and identified by 16S rDNA gene analysis. The experiment was conducted in the greenhouse where the plant growth and nutrient availability to the plants were observed. In this regard, all the treatments such as PSB strain-inoculated plants, biochar-treated plants, and a combination of PSBs + biochar-treated plants were destructively sampled on day 45 (D₄₅) and day 65 (D₆₅) of sowing with four replications at each time. PSB inoculation, biochar incorporation, and their combinations have positive effects on maize plant height and nutrient concentration on D₄₅ and D₆₅. In particular, plants treated with sawdust biochar + Lysinibacillus fusiformis strain 31MZR inoculation increased N (32.8%), P (72.5%), and K (42.1%) against control on D₆₅. Besides that, only L. fusiformis strain 31MZR inoculation enhanced N (23.1%) and P (61.5%) than control which shows the significant interaction of PSB and biochar in nutrient uptake. PSB and biochar have the potential to be used as a promising amendment in improving plant growth and nutrient absorption besides the conventional approaches.     

Isolation and characterization of potassium solubilizing bacteria in some Iranian soils

The ability of a few soil bacteria to transform unavailable forms of potassium (K) to an available form is an important feature in plant growth-promoting bacteria for increasing plant yields of high-K-demand crops. In this research, isolation, screening, and characterization of six isolates of K solubilizing bacteria (KSB) from some Iranian soils were carried out. The ability of all isolates were tested in three treatments including acid-leached soil, biotite, and muscovite by analyzing the soluble K content after 5 days of incubation at 28 ± 2°C. Identification and phylogenetic analyses were also carried out by morphological, biochemical, and 16S rDNA analyses. Among the six efficient isolates, five isolates belonged to Bacillus megaterium (JK3, JK4, JK5, JK6, and JK7), while isolate JK2 belonged to Arthrobacter sp. The soluble K contents in all isolated-treatments were significantly (p < 0.01) higher than the contents in nonbacteria treatment. Herein, isolate JK2 had lower potential for K solubilization (910 mg kg^?1) compared with other isolates in acid-leached soils. The six bacterial strains showed higher solubilized K in biotite treatment than other two treatments. Overall, it can be concluded that the isolates belong to B. megaterium are the most efficient KSB under in vitro condition.     

Isolation and characterization of mineral phosphate-solubilizing bacteria naturally colonizing a limonitic crust in the south-eastern Venezuelan region

With the aim to explore the possible role of mineral phosphate-solubilizing bacteria (PSB) in phosphorus (P) cycling in iron-rich, acidic soils, we conducted a survey of PSB naturally colonizing a limonitic crust in the south-east region of Venezuela (Bolívar State). A total of 130 heterotrophic bacterial isolates showing different degrees of mineral tri-calcium phosphate (Ca₃(PO₄)₂)-solubilizing activities were isolated from NBRIP plates. In contrast, no isolates showing iron phosphate (FePO₄)- or aluminum phosphate (AlPO₄)-solubilizing activities were detected by this experimental approach. The 10 best Ca₃(PO₄)₂-solubilizers were selected for further characterization. These isolates were shown to belong to the genera Burkholderia, Serratia, Ralstonia and Pantoea by partial sequencing analysis of their respective 16S rRNA genes. All the PSB isolates were able to mediate almost complete solubilization of Ca₃(PO₄)₂ in liquid cultures; in contrast, the PSB isolates were less effective when solubilizing FePO₄. Two groups of PSB isolates were clearly differentiated on the basis of their Ca₃(PO₄)₂ solubilization kinetics. Acidification of culture supernatants seemed to be the main mechanism for P solubilization. Indeed, gluconic acid was shown to be present in the supernatant of five isolates. Furthermore, detection of genes involved in the production of this organic acid was possible in three isolates by means of a PCR protocol.     

溶磷菌剂对玉米幼苗生长及根际土壤细菌群落结构 和磷素形态的影响

以FD11(普瑞斯特氏菌Priestia sp.)和CH07(阿氏芽孢杆菌Bacillus aryabhattai)两种溶磷菌剂为试验材料,进行菌剂灌根盆栽试验,测定溶磷菌剂施用对玉米生长、根际土壤养分、土壤微生物特性及土壤不同形态磷含量的影响。结果表明,施用溶磷菌剂可改善根际土壤养分特征和微生物学特性,增加根际土壤的活性磷源含量,对玉米幼苗表现出良好的促生作用。与不施菌剂相比,FD11处理玉米幼苗的株高、茎粗、地上部干重分别增加31.88%、36.39%、104.00%;根际土壤碱解氮、有效磷、速效钾分别增加了21.90%、107.67%、5.77%。施用溶磷菌剂的土壤H₂O-Pi(Pi为无机磷)、NaHCO₃-P和NaOH-P含量增加,但HCl-Pi和Residual-P含量显著降低。施用溶磷菌剂改变了玉米根际土壤细菌的群落结构,在细菌属分类学水平上,不动杆菌属、假单胞菌属、海洋杆菌属、鞘氨醇单胞菌属、节杆菌属等功能细菌的相对丰度显著增加。综合以上分析,施用溶磷菌剂显著提高了土壤速效养分含量,改变了根际土壤细菌的群落结构,增加了活性磷源的...     

Nitrogenous constituents in nest soils of harvester ants (messov ebeninus) and their influence on plant growth

Abstract

As a corollary of a detailed study on the ecology of the Harvester ants in soils of semi‐arid natural pastures, samples from a loessial Arid Brown soil were analyzed for the content of nitrogenous constituents (humic compounds, amino acids, nitrates, ammonia) as well as phenols and carbohydrates and the nutrient status of the soil.

While there was a significant increase in fulvic and humic acids in the ant nests, the simultaneous decrease in amino acids ‐ in relation to the surrounding soil ‐ indicates that the humic substances have been synthesized from amino acids and the abundantly present phenols and possibly carbohydrates.

The much higher concentration of nitrogen compounds in the ant mounds supports the idea that the soil mixing activity of the Harvester ants enhances microbiological processes and in turn the fertility of the mounds, as evident in the better growth of the pasture plants.     

Inoculation of phosphate-solubilizing bacteria Bacillus thuringiensis B1 increases available phosphorus and growth of peanut in acidic soil

Phosphate-solubilizing microorganisms play an important role in plant nutrition by enhancing phosphorus (P) availability to roots through converting the insoluble phosphates into soluble ions. We isolated phosphate-solubilizing bacteria (PSB) from acidic soil (Ultisols) in the field from the layer of 0–150 mm at a tea garden located at 28°38′26″ N and 116°24′27″ E. The capacity of bacterial isolates to solubilize mineral phosphate was tested on aluminum phosphate (AlPO₄) in liquid medium. Among these PSB, isolate B1 (identified as Bacillus thuringiensis) exhibited the maximum P-solubilizing ability and was particularly efficient at solubilizing AlPO₄ (up to 321 mg L^?1) in vitro. The isolate B1 was inoculated to an acidic soil to study its effect on phosphate solubilization and growth of peanuts (Arachis hypogeae). The Olsen-P in the tested soil increased from 14.7 to 23.4 mg kg^?1, with solubilization of 16.4 mg kg^?1 soil of Occluded-P after 14-day incubation. The inoculation by B1 significantly increased plant height (from 37.7 to 45.7 cm), number of branches (from 34.0 to 52.7 per plant), hundred-seed weight (from 42.1 to 46.9 g) and crude protein content (from 243.5 to 268.2 g kg^?1 dry weight). The phosphate-solubilizing B. thuringiensis strain B1 showed potential as a biological phosphorus fertilizer.     

Isolation and identification of iron-reducing bacteria from gley soils

Seventy-one facultative anaerobic bacteria, capable of reducing iron oxide in pure culture, were isolated from three differently gleyed subsoils. The bacteria were picked at random from poured plates (10⁻⁵ and 10⁻⁶) inoculated with serially diluted soil samples. An attempt was made to identify these strains by morphological and biochemical tests. Among these 71 iron-reducing bacteria, all except three were capable of reducing nitrate to nitrite and 35 reduced nitrite further into gaseous compounds (denitrification), but only one strain (Bacillus subtilis) produced H₂S. Based upon their physiological and morphological properties, 38 strains were allotted to the genus Pseudomonas, 31 sporeformers to the genus Bacillus and two were regarded to be coryneform (Arthrobacter?) bacteria. Species identified were Ps. denitrificans (23), ps. stutzeri (8) ps. fluorescens-putida (5), Bacillus cereus (6), B. cereus var. mycoides (14) and Bacillus subtilis (9). Two spore-forming bacilli, two non-pigmented pseudomonads and two coryneform type of bacteria could not be identified. The significance of the enzyme nitrate reductase (nitratase) of these bacteria for anaerobic respiration and as a mechanism of iron reduction is discussed.     

红壤溶磷菌的筛选及溶磷机制

采用以磷酸铝为磷源的蒙金娜(PVK)液体培养基研究了从红壤土中筛选出的4种溶磷菌的溶磷效果,选出其中的优势菌株B1,并对其溶磷机理做出初步探讨。结果表明,所筛选出的4株溶磷菌在液体培养条件下均有显著的溶磷效果,其中菌株B1在培养4 d后有效溶磷量最大,达到292.8 mg L-1。各处理培养液pH在培养期间均有显著下降,pH从7.0下降至3.2~4.7。高效液相色谱测定发现,各菌株培养液中有机酸的种类与含量随培养时间变化而不同,其中菌株B1主要分泌草酸和苹果酸,培养1 d后有机酸总量可达到5 mmol L-1;通过添加有机酸对磷酸铝活化的试验表明,分泌有机酸溶磷仅是菌株B1溶磷机制之一,可能还存在其他溶磷机制。菌株B1生长的适宜pH范围为5~9,最适培养温度为30℃,100 ml三角瓶的最适装液量为30~40 ml。经鉴定,菌株B1与苏云金芽孢杆菌有99.9%的相似性。     

Forms of phosphorus in bacteria and fungi isolated from two Australian soils

To understand the origin of organic and condensed forms of phosphorus (P) in soils, detailed information about P forms in microorganisms is required. We isolated 7 bacteria and 8 fungi from two Australian soils and analyzed the P forms in their pure cultures by extraction with NaOH-EDTA followed by ³¹P solution nuclear magnetic (NMR) spectroscopy. The bacteria belonged to the actinobacteria and the fungi to the ascomycota, as determined by rDNA sequencing. The proportions of broad forms of P were significantly different between the bacterial and fungal isolates (analysis of similarities, p = 0.001). Ortho-, pyro- and polyphosphate were present in higher proportions in fungi, while monoester and diester P were present in higher proportions in bacteria. Spectral deconvolution of the monoester region revealed 15 distinct resonances. The three major ones, which were identified by spiking experiments as glycerol 1-phosphate, glycerol 2-phosphate and adenosine-5′-monophosphate (AMP), comprised 56–74% of P in the monoester region. Ordination by principal component analysis and testing for treatment effects using analysis of similarities showed significant separation of P distribution in the monoester region between bacterial and fungal isolates (p = 0.007). However, neither group of microorganisms had a specific single P form which might be considered characteristic. As such, it may be difficult to distinguish soil P from bacterial or fungal origins, with the possible exception of a predominantly fungal origin of pyro- and polyphosphate. The identification of three major resonances in the monoester region of microorganisms is important, since the same resonances are found in ³¹P NMR spectra of soil extracts.     

Isolation and identification of oxamyl-degrading bacteria from UK agricultural soils

Bacteria capable of utilising oxamyl as the sole carbon source were isolated from seven different agricultural soils that had previously demonstrated enhanced oxamyl degradation in a soil incubation study. Partial sequencing and alignment of the 16S rRNA gene showed little diversity amongst isolates, with 26 of the 27 isolates demonstrating similarity to the genus Aminobacter. The most common species isolated was Aminobacter aminovorans, while a number of the isolates demonstrated an equal degree of similarity to the species Aminobacter niigataensis and Chelatobacter heintzii. One isolate was identified as Mesorhizobium sp. This is the first time that organisms involved in the degradation of oxamyl have been isolated and identified.     

两株土壤分离菌的解磷能力及对玉米的促生作用

从植物根际的土壤样品中分离筛选出两株高效解磷细菌P_9和P_(28),分别被鉴定为粘质沙雷氏菌和产气肠杆菌.研究了不同环境条件对解磷能力的影响,结果表明,P_(28)耐 3%NaCl(w/v,下同)、28℃是两菌的最适温度、在初始pH 5.5～10.0条件下培养时能够高效溶解Ca_3(PO_4)_2.盆栽试验结果表明,单接种、双接种解磷菌处理的玉米株高、植株干重和磷含量显著高于不接菌对照;单接种P_9处理的玉米明显强于单接种P_(28)处理;将有机肥(M)和磷矿石(RP)作为载体和解磷菌一同混合施入土壤的处理,玉米苗干重,磷含量较单施解磷菌显著增加.     

Isolation and characterization of labile organic phosphorus pools in soils from the Askov long‐term field experiments

Isolierung und Kennzeichnung des labilen organischen Phosphor‐Pools in Böden des Langzeitdüngungsexperimentes Askov Labiler organischer Phosphor (P_o) im Boden spielt eine wichtige Rolle in der P‐Ernährung der Pflanzen und ist bedeutend hinsichtlich der Gewässereutrophierung. Im Rahmen dieser Arbeit werden neuere Ergebnisse zu den Eigenschaften des labilen P_o und seiner Reaktion auf unterschiedliche Düngungssysteme diskutiert. Die Untersuchungen fanden an Böden des Langzeitexperimentes zur organischen und anorganischen Düngung in Askov statt. Unser analytischer Ansatz basierte auf einer Kombination der Extraktion von labilem P_o mittels makroporösem Anionenaustauscher‐Harz und der Kennzeichnung von Struktur und Herkunft des NaOH‐extrahierbaren P_o mittels ³¹P‐NMR‐Spektroskopie. Die Analysen wurden an der Feinerde und an Korngrößenfraktionen durchgeführt. Die Ergebnisse zeigen, dass Harz‐Extraktion einen aktiven Pool an P_o isoliert, welcher v.a. aus mikrobiell synthetisierten Strukturen besteht. Die Größe dieses Pools variiert im Jahresgang und hängt von der P‐Düngung ab. Die Art des Düngers (NPK gegenüber Stallmist und Gülle) scheint demgegenüber den labilen P_o kaum zu beeinflussen. Der größte Teil des leicht verfügbaren P_o ist in der Tonfraktion lokalisiert. Es ist daher zu schließen, dass diese Fraktion wichtig im kurzfristigen Umsatz von P_o ist.     

Soil organic carbon and phosphorus availability regulate abundance of culturable phosphate-solubilizing bacteria in paddy fields

Low availability of phosphorus(P) is a major constraint for optimal crop production, as P is mostly present in its insoluble form in soil. Therefore,phosphate-solubilizing bacteria(PSB) from paddy field soils of the Indo-Gangetic Plain, India were isolated, and their abundance was attempted to be correlated with the physicochemical characteristics of the soils. Ninety-four PSB were isolated on Pikovskaya's agar medium, and quantitative phosphate solubilization was evaluated using NBRIP medium. The isolates solubilized P up to a concentration of 1 006 μg mL~(-1) from tricalcium phosphate with the secretion of organic acids. These isolates were identified by 16 S rRNA gene sequence comparison, and they belonged to Gammaproteobacteria(56 isolates),Firmicutes(28 isolates), Actinobacteria(8 isolates), and Alphaproteobacteria(2 isolates). Phylogenetic analysis confirmed the identification by clustering the isolates in the clade of the respective reference organisms. The correlation analysis between PSB abundance and physicochemical characteristics revealed that the PSB population increased with increasing levels of soil organic carbon, insoluble P, K~+, and Mg~(2+). The promising PSB explored in this study can be further evaluated for their biofertilizer potential in the field and for their use as potent bio-inoculants.