Study on PGPR-Amended Biochar Application on Chili (Capsicum annuum) Seedling Growth

Abstract

The sustainable approach to agricultural productivity needs finding alternative resources and processes to increase soil fertility and crop productivity limiting use of harmful chemical fertilizers and pesticides. Use of biochar as soil amendment may provide a significant support by water and nutrient retention as well as site for microbial growth and activity effectively enhancing soil fertility. Further, plant growth promoting bacteria may augment the plant growth by phytohormone release, nutrient recycling and anti-phytopathogenic activity. In the present study, biochar was inoculated with a consortium of plant growth promoting rhizobacteria, previously isolated from rhizosphere soil of Mimosa pudica. Experimentally, the effect on germination and growth of Capsicum annuum (chili) plant with PGPR-inoculated biochar (5% w/w biochar to potting soil) was compared to non-inoculated biochar (5% w/w) and non-amended soil control under laboratory conditions for 30 days. The rate of transplanted Capsicum annuum seed germination was found to be 100 % (20 seeds per pot/treatment x triplicate) within 5day to 10day range while true leaves developed within 10day to 12days. PGPR-inoculated biochar showed significant improvement in plant growth parameters compared to the control, such as plant height (11%), leaf number (12%), root length (12%) and total fresh biomass (14%). These study results indicate that biochar inoculated with PGPR may offer a sustainable alternative to synthetic fertilizers can to enhance seedling growth, nutrient availability, and soil fertility leading to improved soil health and agricultural productivity.