BACTERIA ISOLATED FROM CULTIVATED SOIL AFTER LIMING PROMOTE SEED GERMINATION AND SEEDLING GROWTH OF CROP PLANTS.
Abstract
This study investigated the effects of soil liming on bacterial communities and their potential to promote plant growth. Soil samples were collected from cultivated fields before and after liming (pH adjustment from 5.2 to 6.8). Bacteria were isolated from limed soil using standard microbiological techniques and screened for plant growth-promoting traits, including phosphate solubilization, IAA production, and siderophore synthesis. Selected isolates significantly enhanced seed germination rates (up to 35% increase) and seedling vigor (root and shoot length) in maize, soybean, and wheat under controlled conditions. The dominant isolates belonged to Bacillus and Pseudomonas genera, exhibiting multiple beneficial traits. These findings demonstrate that liming enriches soil with beneficial bacteria that can improve early crop establishment, offering potential for sustainable biofertilizer development in acidic soils.
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