Role of Ochrobactrum Bacteria and Organic Matter in Plant Growth and the Content of N, P, and K Under Soil Salinity Stress

Organic matter increases biological activity within the root zone because it contains beneficial microbes that stimulate vital processes. This study aimed to determine the effect of Ochrobactrum anthropi added to the soil as a single or mixed solution with different concentrations of organic matter on the vegetative growth of the zinnia plant and its content of nutrients. The study was conducted with a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications. The plant was grown in soil with a high salinity level of 8 ds m–1. Plant characteristics were estimated 30 and 60 days after planting the plant. The treatment with the addition of bio-inoculum produced the best results; within 30 days, there was a 56.89% increase in plant length; after 60 days, there was a 52.56% increase; additionally, there was a 52.56% increase in leaf count within 30 days; after 60 days, there was a 53.50% increase; and finally, there was an increase in flower count. For plants after 60 days, it reached 3.66%. With the addition of bio-inoculum to soil at a level of 3 gm kg–1 of organic matter, the mixing treatment achieved the highest dry weight, 29.86%. The addition of bio-inoculum resulted in the largest and most significant increase in chlorophyll content in leaves, reaching 18.76%. In the mixing addition of the biological inoculum treatment, the organic content of the plant showed an increase in nitrogen (14.38%), phosphorus (21.18%), and potassium (39.75%) at 2 and 3 gm kg–1 organic matter, respectively.