Diversity and functional traits based indigenous rhizosphere associated phosphate solubilizing bacteria for sustainable production of rice

Rice rhizosphere prokaryote communities showed significant differences in microbial diversity and composition between between basmati and non-basmati rice cultivated areas. Dominant bacterial phyla included Proteobacteria, Acidobacteria, Actinobacteria, and Firmicutes, with Actinobacteria and Proteobacteria playing a crucial role in nutrient recycling. Isolation and optimization of PSB strains, including Acinetobacter sp. MR5 and Pseudomonas sp. R7, were carried out and soil microcosm studies confirmed their efficacy in increasing soil available phosphorus concentration. Response surface methodology revealed the relative importance of factors such as pH, inoculum density and incubation temperature in maximising phosphate solubilization. Microplot experiments demonstrated the effectiveness of optimized PSB inoculants in promoting Basmati rice growth, with significant increases in plant height, tiller number, biomass, and grain yield compared to uninoculated controls. A consortium of PSB proved superior to single-strain inoculants, even with reduced chemical fertilizer application. Field trials at several rice growing sites confirmed the positive impact of the PSB consortium on grain yield, soil phosphorus availability, and plant phosphorus uptake. The competence and persistence of the inoculated strains in the rhizosphere was confirmed by FISH and BOX Polymerase Chain Reaction (BOX-PCR). This work highlights the potential of PSB-based biofertilizers to improve soil fertility, promote sustainable rice production and reduce the negative environmental impacts of chemical fertilizers. Future research would focus on scaling up these findings for widespread adoption in agriculture and exploring their applicability to other crops and agroecosystems.