1AADHAAR, DSIR certified R and D Lab, Biofac Inputs Private Limited, Hyderabad-502 325, Telangana, India
2Department of Biotechnology, Sri Padmavati Mahila Visvavidyalayam, Tirupati-517 502, Andhra Pradesh, India
3Department of Life Sciences, Mahindra University, Hyderabad-500 043, Telangana, India
*Corresponding Author: Karuganti Sukumar, AADHAAR, DSIR certified R and D Lab, Biofac Inputs Private Limited, Hyderabad-502 325, Telangana, India, Email: sukku4evr@gmail.com
Online published on 6 February, 2026.
Zea mays L., the world's third-largest crop, faces productivity challenges due to abiotic and biotic stresses. With synthetic fertilizers posing adverse effects, microbial inoculants offer a sustainable alternative. This study examines the role of silicate-solubilizing bacteria (SSB) in improving soil fertility and plant nutrition, focusing on its synergy with NPK microbial inoculants and synthetic fertilizers.
Microbial cultures from Biofac Inputs Pvt. Ltd., Hyderabad, were tested in a randomized block design (RBD) with seven treatments and four replications. Plant growth parameters and pigment content were analyzed.
The T6 treatment (NPK+microbial consortia+SSB) showed significant improvements in shoot dry weight (89.6±1.372 g), shoot length (219.95±3.96 cm), root dry weight (17.05±0.676 g), root length (61.55±1.17 cm), yield (17.0±0.196 g), chlorophyll (0.925±0.038 mg/g), carotenoids (0.974±0.037 mg/g) and NPK content (1.94%, 18.19%, 15.1%). The microbial consortia and SSB enhanced soil nutrient availability and plant health while demonstrating compatibility with synthetic fertilizers.
Bacillus tequilensis, Carotenoids, Chlorophyll, Silicate solubilizing bacteria
