Biofertilizer: A novel formulation for improving wheat growth,physiology and yield

Bacillus cereus and pseudomonas moraviensis strains were inoculated singly as well as in consortium with two different carriers i.e.,maize straws and sugarcane husk in the formulation of biofertilizer. plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (pgpr) strains used in biofertilizer were phosphate solubilizer and exhibited strong antifungal activities. both pgpr used in formulation was maintained 15-16.5×108 cfu g−1 in carrier material after 40d. the field experiment was conducted at quaid-e-azam university islamabad on wheat for two consecutive years (2011-2012) simultaneously in pots and field. plants sampling for growth and physiological parameters was made after 57d of sowing and at maturity for yield parameters. single inoculation of pseudomonas moraviensis and bacillus cereus with maize straw and sugarcane husk increased plant height and fresh weight by 18-30% and protein,proline,sugar contents and antioxidant activities by 25-40%. there were 20% increases in spike length,seeds/spike and seed weight in single inoculation. co-inoculation of pgpr further increased plant growth,physiology and yield by 10-15% over single inoculation with carriers. pgpr consortium with sugarcane husk and maize straw (biofertilizer formulation) increased 20-30% plant growth chlorophyll,sugar,protein contents,antioxidants activities and yield parameters. it is inferred that carrier based biofertilzer effectively increased growth,maintained osmotic balance and enhanced the activities of antioxidant enzymes and yield parameters. © 2016,pakistan botanical society. all rights reserved.