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Acharya N G Ranga Agricultural University, Guntur

The Andhra Pradesh Agricultural University (APAU) was established on 12th June 1964 at Hyderabad. The University was formally inaugurated on 20th March 1965 by Late Shri. Lal Bahadur Shastri, the then Hon`ble Prime Minister of India. Another significant milestone was the inauguration of the building programme of the university by Late Smt. Indira Gandhi,the then Hon`ble Prime Minister of India on 23rd June 1966. The University was renamed as Acharya N. G. Ranga Agricultural University on 7th November 1996 in honour and memory of an outstanding parliamentarian Acharya Nayukulu Gogineni Ranga, who rendered remarkable selfless service for the cause of farmers and is regarded as an outstanding educationist, kisan leader and freedom fighter. HISTORICAL MILESTONE Acharya N. G. Ranga Agricultural University (ANGRAU) was established under the name of Andhra Pradesh Agricultural University (APAU) on the 12th of June 1964 through the APAU Act 1963. Later, it was renamed as Acharya N. G. Ranga Agricultural University on the 7th of November, 1996 in honour and memory of the noted Parliamentarian and Kisan Leader, Acharya N. G. Ranga. At the verge of completion of Golden Jubilee Year of the ANGRAU, it has given birth to a new State Agricultural University namely Prof. Jayashankar Telangana State Agricultural University with the bifurcation of the state of Andhra Pradesh as per the Andhra Pradesh Reorganization Act 2014. The ANGRAU at LAM, Guntur is serving the students and the farmers of 13 districts of new State of Andhra Pradesh with renewed interest and dedication. Genesis of ANGRAU in service of the farmers 1926: The Royal Commission emphasized the need for a strong research base for agricultural development in the country... 1949: The Radhakrishnan Commission (1949) on University Education led to the establishment of Rural Universities for the overall development of agriculture and rural life in the country... 1955: First Joint Indo-American Team studied the status and future needs of agricultural education in the country... 1960: Second Joint Indo-American Team (1960) headed by Dr. M. S. Randhawa, the then Vice-President of Indian Council of Agricultural Research recommended specifically the establishment of Farm Universities and spelt out the basic objectives of these Universities as Institutional Autonomy, inclusion of Agriculture, Veterinary / Animal Husbandry and Home Science, Integration of Teaching, Research and Extension... 1963: The Andhra Pradesh Agricultural University (APAU) Act enacted... June 12th 1964: Andhra Pradesh Agricultural University (APAU) was established at Hyderabad with Shri. O. Pulla Reddi, I.C.S. (Retired) was the first founder Vice-Chancellor of the University... June 1964: Re-affilitation of Colleges of Agriculture and Veterinary Science, Hyderabad (estt. in 1961, affiliated to Osmania University), Agricultural College, Bapatla (estt. in 1945, affiliated to Andhra University), Sri Venkateswara Agricultural College, Tirupati and Andhra Veterinary College, Tirupati (estt. in 1961, affiliated to Sri Venkateswara University)... 20th March 1965: Formal inauguration of APAU by Late Shri. Lal Bahadur Shastri, the then Hon`ble Prime Minister of India... 1964-66: The report of the Second National Education Commission headed by Dr. D.S. Kothari, Chairman of the University Grants Commission stressed the need for establishing at least one Agricultural University in each Indian State... 23, June 1966: Inauguration of the Administrative building of the university by Late Smt. Indira Gandhi, the then Hon`ble Prime Minister of India... July, 1966: Transfer of 41 Agricultural Research Stations, functioning under the Department of Agriculture... May, 1967: Transfer of Four Research Stations of the Animal Husbandry Department... 7th November 1996: Renaming of University as Acharya N. G. Ranga Agricultural University in honour and memory of an outstanding parliamentarian Acharya Nayukulu Gogineni Ranga... 15th July 2005: Establishment of Sri Venkateswara Veterinary University (SVVU) bifurcating ANGRAU by Act 18 of 2005... 26th June 2007: Establishment of Andhra Pradesh Horticultural University (APHU) bifurcating ANGRAU by the Act 30 of 2007... 2nd June 2014 As per the Andhra Pradesh Reorganization Act 2014, ANGRAU is now... serving the students and the farmers of 13 districts of new State of Andhra Pradesh with renewed interest and dedication...

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Subject: Agricultural Microbiology × Start date: 2017 × Thesis Type: Ph.D ×
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    DEVELOPMENT OF ENDOPHYTIC MICROBIAL CONSORTIUM TO MITIGATE MOISTURE STRESS CONDITIONS IN MAIZE CROP (Zea mays L.)
    (Acharya N G Ranga Agricultural University, 2023-11-08) M. UMA SOWJANYA; N. TRIMURTULU
    Maize is the third most vital crop after the rice and wheat in India but it stands first in the context of potential for highest productivity. Maize has been used for multi purposes, for instance as a food for human, feed for livestock and also used as a raw material in many industries. Drought stress has been reported to cause yield reductions of up to 40% in maize around the world and it was also considered as nutrient exhaustive crop. The quality and yield of crop may change due to the association of endophytic microbes that reside in plants asymptomatically and they were known protect plant from abiotic and biotic stress. The present investigation was aimed to develop an endophytic microbial consortium which is an alternative approach to minimize the use of chemical fertilizers and to mitigate stress conditions in maize without affecting ecosystem. A total of 106 endophytic bacterial morphotypes were isolated from surface sterilized maize plant tissues including roots, stem, leaf and kernels collected from various regions of AP which includes Srikakulam, Vijayanagaram, Visakhapatnam, East Godavari, Guntur, Kurnool and Ananthapuram. Among all 36 efficient water stress mitigating and plant growth promoting isolates were selected and screened to 16 effective isolates based on quantitative analysis of plant growth promoting attributes. Significant isolates were identified as genera Gordonia,Microbacterium, Kosakonia, Priestia, Bacillus, Cellulosimicrobium, Pantoea, Pseudomonas, Klebsiella and Methylorubrum by 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Efficient 7 isolates were selected namely Kosakonia radicincitans (NL3E3), Priestia megaterium (PdS3E1), Priestia aryabhattai (PL3E2) Bacillus licheniformis (VaR3E1), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (LS3E1), Klebsiella pneumonia (LS3E3) and Methylorubrum populi (LL3E1) for compatiability and endophytic colonization studies. Based on the obtained results formulated microbial consortium (MC-4) xxii Bacillus megaterium+ Bacillus licheniformis+ Klebsiella pneumoniae+ Methylorubrum populi was seclected for pot and field experiments. In pot culture experiment microbial consortium inoculated treatments imposed with (75% WHC) water stress T9 (100% RDF) and T8 (75% RDF) were found to excel in many plant and soil chemical properties when compared to un-inoculated control. For instance chlorophyll stability index T9 (138.67%) T8 (133.33%), relative water content T9 (95.20%), organic carbon ccontent was found highest in T5 (0.39%) and T8 (0.38%), available nitrogen in soil was more in T9 (145.61 Kg ha-1) and T8 (141.65 Kg ha-1), available phosphorous was higher in T8 (67.68 Kg ha-1), available potassium is more in T9 (345.86 Kg ha-1). The N, P and K uptake was found significantly higher in T9 with 13.98 g plant-1, 3.38 g plant-1 and 17.29 g plant-1 respectively. Total microbial population in rhizosphere and endosphere was found higher at flowering stage. Total bacterial, fungal and actinomyces were reported highest in T9 with (9.99 Log CFU g-1 of soil), T8 (5.66 Log CFU g-1 of soil) and T9 (4.24 Log CFU g-1 of soil) respectively. At vegetative stage maximum colonization of endophytic bacteria was found in roots followed by stem and least colonization was found in leaves. Contradictory to that at flowering stage maximum endophytic bacterial population was observed in stem followed by roots and leaves. Higher plant biomass was produced by T9 (259.67 g) and grain yield was found highest in T9 (53.56 g) followed by T8 (51.39 g) In field conditions maximum CSI was observed for T9 (138.67%) and highest RWC was recorded in T7 (95.13%). The production of H2O2 was higher in treatments given with lower number of irrigations and so the peroxidase activity. The organic carbon in soil was highest in T7 (0.45%). The available nitrogen in soil was more in T9 (225.29 kg ha-1) and T8 (209.09 kg ha-1), available phosphorous was higher in T9 (70.34 kg ha-1) and T8 (69.92 kg ha-1), available potassium is more in T9 (390.62 kg ha-1), T8 (360.59 kg ha-1). The N, P and K uptake was found significantly higher in T8 (690.03 Kg ha-1), T9 (182.45 Kg ha-1) and T9 (425.61 Kg ha-1) respectively. Total microbial population was found highest at flowering stage and the endophytic microbial population was found highest in root endosphere followed by stem, leaf and kernels. Significantly higher dehydrogenase activity was found in T9 (58.90 μg of TPF g-1 of soil day-1) at flowering stage and maximum phosphatasee activity was found in T8 (94.97 μg pNP g-1 of soil h-1). At flowering stage T9 (24054 Kg ha-1) and T8 (22332 Kg ha-1) were found to produce significantly higher amount of plant biomass. Significantly more yields were obtained in T6 (7963 Kg ha-1) followed by T9 (7644 Kg ha-1). Considerably higher net returns were obtained for T6: 5 Irrigations + 100 % RDF + MC (Rs. 113717/- ha-1) followed by T9:7 Irrigations + 100 % RDF + MC (Rs. 106325/- ha-1) and T8:7 Irrigations + 75 % RDF + MC (Rs. 102539/- ha-1). Thus the current study suggested that significant net returns can be obtained even under water deficit conditions when inoculated with endophytic microbial consortium (Bacillus megaterium+ Bacillus licheniformis+ Klebsiella pneumoniae+ Methylorubrum populi) by improved plant growth and yields due to enhanced osmotolerance and mineralization of nutrients. Nearly 120 mm of water (2 irrigations) and 25% of RDF can be minimized for crop production without affecting yield and net returns.
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    INFLUENCE OF ZINC AND SILICA SOLUBILIZING MICROORGANISMS ISOLATED FROM DIFFERENT SOURCES ON CROP GROWTH AND YIELD OF DIRECT SOWN RICE (Oryza sativa L.)
    (ACHARYA N.G. RANGA AGRICULTURAL UNIVERSITY, GUNTUR, 2021-12-21) VINOD BABU, s; VIJAYA GOPAL, A
    Rice (Oryza sativa L.) is one of the important staple food for more than 50 % of the world’s population providing major source of the food energy. Rice plays a crucial role in Indian agriculture contributing to 20-25 % of agricultural income. It contributes about 43% of the total food grain production and about 46 % of the total cereal production in India. Depending on water and labour paucity, farmers are altering rice establishment methods from transplanting to direct seeding in unpuddled soil as it is possible to save water and labour wages etc. In direct sown rice, zinc and silica deficiencies were observed in most of the rice growing areas of India posing a threat to the crop plant growth and yield. Keeping in view of future requirements and present needs this study was framed to develop bacterial inoculants for zinc and silica solubilisation in direct sown rice. A total of thirty two zinc solubilising bacterial inoculants and twenty eight silica solubilising bacterial inoculants were isolated from Kurnool district (Mandals of Atmakur, Kothapalle, Jupadu bungalow, Pamulapadu and Velugodu), Prakasam district (Mandals of Tripuranthakam, Yerragondapalem, Dornala, Markapuram and Giddalur), Guntur district (Mandals of Vinukonda, Narasaraopet, Chilakaluripet, Sattenapalle and Piduguralla) and Anantapur district (Mandals of Guntakal, Gooty, Pamidi, Tadipatri and Uravakonda). After through screening for different plant growth promoting characteristics i.e., zinc solubilization efficiency, silica solubilization efficiency, phosphate solubilization efficiency, potassium releasing efficiency, exopolysaccharide production activity, indole acetic acid production activity, siderophore production activity and different biochemical tests, two efficient zinc solubilizing bacterial isolates and two efficient silica solubilizing bacterial isolates were selected. The efficient isolates were identified as ZnKJJ-4 (Pseudomonas knackmussii B13 - 99.80 % identity), ZnPGG-1 (Pseudomonas aeruginosa strain FQM - 99.66 %), SiKPP-1(Bacillus mucilaginosus strain CGMCC 1.2326 - 99.95 % identity), SiPYY-3 (Bacillus megaterium PSB1 - 99.92 % identity) by using 16S rRNA phylogenetic study. Further, shelf life of efficient zinc and silica solubilizing bacterial isolates were studied using different carrier material (Lignite, peat and charcoal powder) to check the viability in a period of six months of storage in the incubator at 250C. Zinc solubilizing bacterial isolates survived better in the lignite. Silica solubilizing bacterial isolates persisted in charcoal powder. Pot culture and field trials were conducted with efficient zinc and silica solubilizing bacterial isolates and their consortia (ZnKJJ-4 + ZnPGG-1 + SiKPP-1 + SiPYY-3) in combination with different treatments and recommended dose of fertilizer. In the pot culture experiment, significantly highest zinc solubilizing bacteria (6.94 Log CFU g-1 soil), silica solubilizing bacteria (6.98 Log CFU g-1 soil), total bacteria (9.85 Log CFU g-1soil), fungal population (5.37 Log CFU g-1 soil) and actinomycetes population (6.68 Log CFU g-1 soil) were observed in T13 (RDF + ZnKJJ-4 & ZnPGG- 1 + SiKPP-1 & SiPYY-3) at 90 DAS. Highest chlorophyll content (1.94 mg g-1), dry matter production (47.7 gm pot-1),available nitrogen (249.4 kg ha-1), available phosphorus (61.8 kg ha-1), available potassium (347.9 kg ha-1), zinc (0.99 ppm) and silica content (90.8 ppm) in soil was highest in T13 in pot culture experiment. Highest dehydrogenase activity (574.7 μg TPF g-1 day-1), acid phosphatase activity (85.36 μg pNP g-1 h-1), alkaline phosphatase activity (138.69 μg pNP g-1 h-1) and urease activity (69.61 μg TPF g-1 day-1) in soil was observed in T13. Highest nitrogen (0.99 %), phosphorous (0.58 %) and potassium (2.18 %) percentage in plant was found in T13 at 90 DAS in pot culture. Similarly, zinc (0.75 ppm) and silica (0.99 ppm) content in plant and also total zinc (0.39 ppm) and silica (0.89 ppm) content in grain were highest in T13 in pot culture experiment at 90 DAS. Plant height at 90 DAS (75 cm), panicle length (17.4 cm panicle-1), number of grains per panicle (145 panicle-1), number of filled grains per panicle (127 panicle-1), 1000 grain weight (17.1 g), grain yield (27.9 g pot-1) and straw yield (49.7 g pot-1) were significantly higher in T13 when compared to the other treatments in pot culture. In the field studies, T13 (RDF + ZnKJJ-4 & ZnPGG- 1 + SiKPP-1 & SiPYY-3) at 90 DAS recorded significantly highest zinc solubilizing bacteria (6.98 Log CFU g-1 soil), silica solubilizing bacteria (6.94 Log CFU g-1 soil), total bacteria (9.96 Log CFU g-1 soil), fungal population (5.48 Log CFU g-1 soil) and actinomycetes population (6.89 Log CFU g-1 soil). Highest chlorophyll content (2.04 mg g-1), dry matter production (2547kg ha-1), available nitrogen (262.3 kg ha-1), available phosphorus (64.7 kg ha-1), available potassium (349.6 kg ha-1), zinc (1.14 ppm) and silica (98.9 ppm) content in soil were found highest in T13. Highest dehydrogenase activity (583.6 μg TPF g-1 day- 1), acid phosphatase activity (90.18 μg pNP g-1 h-1), alkaline phosphatase activity (148.69 μg pNP g-1 h-1) and urease activity (72.72 μg TPF g-1 day-1) in soil was observed in T13. Highest nitrogen (1.10 %), phosphorous (0.67 %) and potassium (2.29 %) percentage as well as zinc (0.96 ppm) and silica (1.08 ppm) content in plant were found in T13 at 90 DAS in field conditions. Under field conditions, T13 recorded highest total zinc (0.58 ppm) and silica (0.98 ppm) content in grain. Plant height at 90 DAS (77.1 cm), total number of tillers per m2 (496), panicle length (18.2 cm panicle-1), number of grains per panicle (157 panicle-1), number of filled grains per panicle (140 panicle-1), 1000 grain weight (19.2g), grain yield (5523 kg ha-1) and straw yield (6893 kg ha-1) were significantly higher in T13 when compared to the other treatments. The present investigation showed influence of efficient zinc and silica solubilizing microorganisms on the plant growth and yield of direct sown paddy crop under pot culture and field conditions. Zinc and silica solubilising bacteria along with RDF (T13) enhanced the availability N, P, K, Zn and Si nutrients in the soil and nutrient content in plant, improved the enzymatic activity, soil microflora, soil health and fertility status of the soil.
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    INFLUENCE OF ZINC AND SILICA SOLUBILIZING MICROORGANISMS ISOLATED FROM DIFFERENT SOURCES ON CROP GROWTH AND YIELD OF DIRECT SOWN RICE (Oryza sativa L.)
    (Acharya N G Ranga Agricultural University, Guntur, 2021-09-07) VINOD BABU, S; VIJAYA GOPAL, A
    Rice (Oryza sativa L.) is one of the important staple food for more than 50 % of the world’s population providing major source of the food energy. Rice plays a crucial role in Indian agriculture contributing to 20-25 % of agricultural income. It contributes about 43% of the total food grain production and about 46 % of the total cereal production in India. Depending on water and labour paucity, farmers are altering rice establishment methods from transplanting to direct seeding in unpuddled soil as it is possible to save water and labour wages etc. In direct sown rice, zinc and silica deficiencies were observed in most of the rice growing areas of India posing a threat to the crop plant growth and yield. Keeping in view of future requirements and present needs this study was framed to develop bacterial inoculants for zinc and silica solubilisation in direct sown rice. A total of thirty two zinc solubilising bacterial inoculants and twenty eight silica solubilising bacterial inoculants were isolated from Kurnool district (Mandals of Atmakur, Kothapalle, Jupadu bungalow, Pamulapadu and Velugodu), Prakasam district (Mandals of Tripuranthakam, Yerragondapalem, Dornala, Markapuram and Giddalur), Guntur district (Mandals of Vinukonda, Narasaraopet, Chilakaluripet, Sattenapalle and Piduguralla) and Anantapur district (Mandals of Guntakal, Gooty, Pamidi, Tadipatri and Uravakonda). After through screening for different plant growth promoting characteristics i.e., zinc solubilization efficiency, silica solubilization efficiency, phosphate solubilization efficiency, potassium releasing efficiency, exopolysaccharide production activity, indole acetic acid production activity, siderophore production activity and different biochemical tests, two efficient zinc solubilizing bacterial isolates and two efficient silica solubilizing bacterial isolates were selected. The efficient isolates were identified as ZnKJJ-4 (Pseudomonas knackmussii B13 - 99.80 % identity), ZnPGG-1 (Pseudomonas aeruginosa strain FQM - 99.66 %), SiKPP-1(Bacillus mucilaginosus strain CGMCC 1.2326 - 99.95 % identity), SiPYY-3 (Bacillus megaterium PSB1 - 99.92 % identity) by using 16S rRNA phylogenetic study. Further, shelf life of efficient zinc and silica solubilizing bacterial isolates were studied using different carrier material (Lignite, peat and charcoal powder) to check the viability in a period of six months of storage in the incubator at 250C. Zinc solubilizing bacterial isolates survived better in the lignite. Silica solubilizing bacterial isolates persisted in charcoal powder. Pot culture and field trials were conducted with efficient zinc and silica solubilizing bacterial isolates and their consortia (ZnKJJ-4 + ZnPGG-1 + SiKPP-1 + SiPYY-3) in combination with different treatments and recommended dose of fertilizer. In the pot culture experiment, significantly highest zinc solubilizing bacteria (6.94 Log CFU g-1 soil), silica solubilizing bacteria (6.98 Log CFU g-1 soil), total bacteria (9.85 Log CFU g-1soil), fungal population (5.37 Log CFU g-1 soil) and actinomycetes population (6.68 Log CFU g-1 soil) were observed in T13 (RDF + ZnKJJ-4 & ZnPGG- 1 + SiKPP-1 & SiPYY-3) at 90 DAS. Highest chlorophyll content (1.94 mg g-1), dry matter production (47.7 gm pot-1),available nitrogen (249.4 kg ha-1), available phosphorus (61.8 kg ha-1), available potassium (347.9 kg ha-1), zinc (0.99 ppm) and silica content (90.8 ppm) in soil was highest in T13 in pot culture experiment. Highest dehydrogenase activity (574.7 µg TPF g-1 day-1), acid phosphatase activity (85.36 µg pNP g-1 h-1), alkaline phosphatase activity (138.69 µg pNP g-1 h-1) and urease activity (69.61 µg TPF g-1 day-1) in soil was observed in T13. Highest nitrogen (0.99 %), phosphorous (0.58 %) and potassium (2.18 %) percentage in plant was found in T13 at 90 DAS in pot culture. Similarly, zinc (0.75 ppm) and silica (0.99 ppm) content in plant and also total zinc (0.39 ppm) and silica (0.89 ppm) content in grain were highest in T13 in pot culture experiment at 90 DAS. Plant height at 90 DAS (75 cm), panicle length (17.4 cm panicle-1), number of grains per panicle (145 panicle-1), number of filled grains per panicle (127 panicle-1), 1000 grain weight (17.1 g), grain yield (27.9 g pot-1) and straw yield (49.7 g pot-1) were significantly higher in T13 when compared to the other treatments in pot culture. In the field studies, T13 (RDF + ZnKJJ-4 & ZnPGG- 1 + SiKPP-1 & SiPYY-3) at 90 DAS recorded significantly highest zinc solubilizing bacteria (6.98 Log CFU g-1 soil), silica solubilizing bacteria (6.94 Log CFU g-1 soil), total bacteria (9.96 Log CFU g-1 soil), fungal population (5.48 Log CFU g-1 soil) and actinomycetes population (6.89 Log CFU g-1 soil). Highest chlorophyll content (2.04 mg g-1), dry matter production (2547kg ha-1), available nitrogen (262.3 kg ha-1), available phosphorus (64.7 kg ha-1), available potassium (349.6 kg ha-1), zinc (1.14 ppm) and silica (98.9 ppm) content in soil were found highest in T13. Highest dehydrogenase activity (583.6 µg TPF g-1 day-1), acid phosphatase activity (90.18 µg pNP g-1 h-1), alkaline phosphatase activity (148.69 µg pNP g-1 h-1) and urease activity (72.72 µg TPF g-1 day-1) in soil was observed in T13. Highest nitrogen (1.10 %), phosphorous (0.67 %) and potassium (2.29 %) percentage as well as zinc (0.96 ppm) and silica (1.08 ppm) content in plant were found in T13 at 90 DAS in field conditions. Under field conditions, T13 recorded highest total zinc (0.58 ppm) and silica (0.98 ppm) content in grain. Plant height at 90 DAS (77.1 cm), total number of tillers per m2 (496), panicle length (18.2 cm panicle-1), number of grains per panicle (157 panicle-1), number of filled grains per panicle (140 panicle-1), 1000 grain weight (19.2g), grain yield (5523 kg ha-1) and straw yield (6893 kg ha-1) were significantly higher in T13 when compared to the other treatments. The present investigation showed influence of efficient zinc and silica solubilizing microorganisms on the plant growth and yield of direct sown paddy crop under pot culture and field conditions. Zinc and silica solubilising bacteria along with RDF (T13) enhanced the availability N, P, K, Zn and Si nutrients in the soil and nutrient content in plant, improved the enzymatic activity, soil microflora, soil health and fertility status of the soil.
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    DEVELOPMENT OF MICROBIAL INOCULANTS FOR DROUGHT STRESS MITIGATION AND THEIR IMPACT ON GROUNDNUT CROP (Arachis hypogaea L.)
    (Acharya N.G. Ranga Agricultural University, Guntur, 2021-09-01) PRASANNA KUMAR, B; TRIMURTULU, N
    Groundnut is an important oilseed crop suitable for tropical regions of the world. Generally, tropical areas are much prone to drought, which severely affects food production. India, a subtropical country produces groundnut on a large scale and occupies first in the area and second in terms of production. However, India’s groundnut production is anticipated to decline by 29 % due to inadequate rainfall, which demands advanced technological interventions in terms of sustainability. Keeping in view the future requirements and present needs this study was framed to develop bacterial inoculants for the drought prone areas of groundnut. A total of fifty one bacterial inoculants were isolated from drought prone areas viz., Anantapur (Mandals of Anantapur, Kambadur, Gummagatta and Vidapanikal) and Prakasam Districts (Mandals of Chirala, Chinaganjam, Kothapatnam and Vetapalem) of Andhra Pradesh, India. Out of 51, efficient bacterial isolates nine were nitrogen fixing bacteria (Rhizobium sp.) five were phosphate solubilizing bacteria (PSB), six were potassium releasing bacteria (KRB) and the remaining 31 isolates are drought mitigating bacteria. Among these, a total of 14 efficient bacterial isolates were screened under in vitro by plant growth promoting and biochemical traits. Further these were screened with 16S rRNA gene sequencing and identified as PCMS-1 (Rhizobium sp. having 99.36 % identity), AGVS (Caballeronia zhejiangensis strain ND-B having 100.00 % identity), PCKS-3 (Burkholderia dolosa strain LMG 18943 having 99.79 % identity) and PCKS-5 (Bacillus sp. 7B-635 having 99.46 % identity) finally which were used to formulate an efficient microbial consortium and inoculated to the host crop under pot culture conditions. In the pot culture experiment, germination percentage (91.00 %), number of branches (9 plant-1), shoot length (22.27 cm plant-1), root length (13.63 cm plant-1), number of nodules (45 plant-1), nodule dry weight (142.68 g plant-1) and number of pods (7 plant-1) were significantly higher in T3 (PCMS-1+AGVS+PCKS-3+PCKS-5) when compared to the other treatments in pot culture conditions. Significantly highest plant biomass (17.76 g plant-1) was found in T1 (PCMS-1+AGVS+PCKS-3), highest chlorophyll content (1.97 mg g-1) and RWC (88.80 %) was observed in T4 (PCMS-1+AGVS+PCKS-3+PVAS+PCKS-5), T3 had highest chlorophyll stability index (96 %) and bacterial population (7.72 Log CFU g-1 soil). Further, pot and field trials were conducted with the selected drought mitigating bacterial consortium (PCMS-1+AGVS+PCKS-3+PCKS-5) in combination with different treatments of moisture levels and fertilizer doses. Relative water content was highest (99.54 %) in T8 (6 Irrigations+75% RDF+MC). Conversely, the highest H2O2 content (9.60 μmol g-1), proline (204.0 μg g-1) and peroxidase activity (62.28 units min-1 g-1) were observed in T1 (2 Irrigations+50% RDF+MC). Organic carbon found highest (0.47 %) in T8 at 90 DAS. Highest chlorophyll content (3.18 mg ml-1), nitrogen (198 kg ha-1), phosphorus (70.04 kg ha-1), potassium (398 kg ha-1) and per cent K (1.91 %) were observed in T8. Rhizobium sp. (5.91 Log CFU g-1 soil), total bacteria (8.89 Log CFU g-1 soil) and fungal population (5.55 Log CFU g-1 soil) were observed in T8 at 60 DAS. Conversely, the highest KRB (4.80 Log CFU g-1 soil) and DMB (5.88 Log CFU g-1 soil) population were observed in T8 at 90 DAS. Actinomycetes (6.73 Log CFU g-1 soil) and PSB (5.88 Log CFU g-1 soil) population was recorded highly in T12 (8 Irrigations+100% RDF+MC) at 90 DAS. Highest dehydrogenase (33.09 μg TPF g-1 day-1), alkaline phosphatase activity (65.10 μg pNP g-1 h-1) and total aggregate formation (98.36) were observed at 60 DAS in T8. Microbial biomass carbon decreased after 90 days and found highest in T8 (352.56 μg C g-1) than other treatments. Similarly, microbial biomass nitrogen was highest in T8 (31.21 μg N g-1). Nodule number (295 plant-1) was found highest in T9 (6 Irrigations+100% RDF+MC) correspondingly nodule dry weight (271 mg plant-1) was also obtained highest. Contrastingly, maximum plant biomass (11592 kg ha-1), shoot (51.67 cm plant-1) and root length (20.54 cm plant-1) found higher with the 8 irrigations. Yield parameters like pod yield (3427 kg ha-1) and kernel yield (2633 kg ha-1), 100 kernel weight (63.30 plant-1) and oil content (47.30 %) were attained highest with six irrigations, 75 per cent recommended dose of fertilizers and microbial consortium under field conditions. The present investigation proved that the application of microbial consortium comprising (Rhizobium sp., Caballeronia zhejiangensis strain ND-B, Burkholderia dolosa strain LMG 18943 and Bacillus sp. 7B-635) is an efficient inoculants in mitigating drought. This was evidenced by improvement in groundnut yield as three per cent with 25 per cent reduction in chemical fertilizer, six irrigations and with microbial consortia when compared to the treatment which does not apply microbial consortia though it received eight irrigations with 100 per cent recommended dose of fertilizer. Thus the drought mitigating bacterial inoculants are highly recommended to use reduced chemical fertilizer dosage with minimum number of irrigations and have considerable benefits to the farming community of drought prone areas.