Effect of Plant Growth Promoting Rhizobacteria on yield and seed quality of Barley (Hordeum vulgare L.)
Loading...
Date
2017-07
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
College of Forestry, Ranichauri, V.C.S.G. Uttarakhand University of Horticulture and Forestry
Abstract
Barley is an important and nutritious crop which support livelihood of small and marginal farmers of
Uttarakhand. This crop is rich in important nutrients including protein, carbohydrates, fat, fibers etc. But the soils in
Uttrakhand hills are acidic and poor in available nutrients and therefore affect the crop production. Farmers depend
on chemical fertilizers to increase crop yield which adversely affects the soil quality as well as human health. Thus
there is a need to use ecofriendly alternative like plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) to enhance the crop
yield. The present study entitled ―Effect of Plant Growth Promoting Rhizobacteria on yield and seed quality of
Barley (Hordeum valgare L.)‖ was conducted at College of forestry, Ranichauri, Tehri Garhwal, Uttarakhand.
During the study, thirty rhizobacteria belonging to Pseudomonas and Bacillus spp. were isolated from different
crops. Ten of these isolates were selected on the basis of their good PGP attributes to evaluate them for their
suitability on three different barley varieties (PRB-501, PRB-801 and VL-56). Results of in-vitro tests (blotter paper
and towel paper tests) suggest that response of the two varsities (PRB-801 and VL-56) towards PGP isolates was
better. Similarly, out of ten PGPRs, three isolates (BSB-56, BSPS-37 and BSPS-11) responded better than other
isolates. Therefore, field experiment was conducted in two successive years (2015-16 and 2016-17) using both of
the above varieties and three PGPR isolates to assess their plant growth promoting potential. Findings revealed
increased germination (10.50%), number of tillers (157.10%), awn length (46.80%), dry weight (366.80%) and grain
yield (74.80%) with BSB-56. However, increase in number of leaves (80.66%), spikelet length (60.50%) and test
weight (308.90%) were recorded with combination of BSB-56 and BSPS-37. On the other hand increased number of
tillers (83.30%), dry weight (38.50%), and grain yield (58.50%) in VL-56 were recorded with BSB-56. Whereas,
germination (8.90%), number of leaves (61.60%), length of spikelet (131.30%) and test weight (8.90%) were
increased by the combination of BSB-56 and BSPS-37. Results of seed quality tests of harvested seeds revealed
improved seed quality parameters after the treatments. Both the isolates (BSB-56 and BSPS-37) individually and in
combination affected the seed quality parameters including percent germination, seedling length, seedling weights
and vigour indices.
On the basis of above results this can be concluded that BSB-56 and BSPS-37 individually and in
combination can enhance the plant growth and yield even under field conditions. This was interesting to note the
improved seed quality harvested from the treated plants. Therefore, both the potential PGPRs may be recommended
to farmers to reduce their dependence on chemical fertilizers for plant growth and yield management. Use of PGPRs
is more suitable for crop production under organic farming.
Description
Keywords
null