Assessment of Effect of Beneficial Microorganisms on Plant Growth and Yield of Quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Wild) under Semi-arid Alfisols

Author: Ameer Pasha B., Salmankhan R.M., Parameshnaik C. and L. Krishna Naik

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Abstract

The University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore, undertook an experiment to determine the impact of advantageous microbial inoculants on the growth and yield of quinoa in glass house conditions. Five microbiological cultures were examined: Glomus fasciculatum, Bacillus megaterium, Fraturia aurantia, Pseudomonas fluorescens, and Azotobacter chroococcum. Pure cultures of chosen isolates of Bacillus megaterium, Fraturia aurantia, Azotobacter chroococcum, and Pseudomonas fluorescens were sub-cultured on a particular medium and kept in slants for further research. To find the best treatment for achieving the highest plant growth and yield characteristics, 17 treatments were examined. According to the Analysis of Variance, there were substantial differences between treatments in how they affected plant characteristics and quinoa yield. T17 seeded with Azotobacter chroococcum+ Bacillus megaterium+ Pseudomonas fluorescens was superior with considerably higher plant height, number of leaves per plant, number of branches per plant, leaf area, length and weight of the panicle, weight of the shoot and root, and quinoa grain yield. The number of leaves per plant and the number of branches per plant both showed statistically significant associations with plant height. Plant height, the number of leaves, and the number of branches per plant were all substantially linked with panicle length and weight. Significant correlations existed between panicle length, weight, shoot and root dry weight, and leaf area. Plant height, leaf count, panicle length, panicle weight, shoot and root dry weight, leaf area, and soil N all had a substantial impact on quinoa yield. To achieve the best plant development and yield metrics, we advise using T17 inoculated with Azotobacter chroococcum+ Bacillus megaterium+ Pseudomonas fluorescens. A requirement for Before being widely used by farmers in semi-arid Alfisols, the superior microorganisms must be tested in the field for greater efficacy.

Keywords

Microbial cultures, Plant growth traits, Yield parameters, Correlation, Alfisols

Conclusion

A study was conducted to assess the effect of microbial inoculants on growth and yield of quinoa under glass house conditions in Department of Agricultural Microbiology, UAS, Bangalore. Five microbial cultures viz., Azotobacter chroococcum, Bacillus megaterium, Fraturia aurantia, Pseudomonas fluorescens and Glomus fasciculatum were used. Pure cultures of Azotobacter chroococcum, Bacillus megaterium, Fraturia aurantia, Pseudomonas fluorescens isolates were sub-cultured on specific medium and maintained in slants. Microbial inoculants of Azotobacter chroococcum, Bacillus megaterium, Fraturia aurantia, Pseudomonas fluorescens were mixed with carrier (talc) and kept for a week for stabilization at room temperature. About 10g of carrier based inoculants was applied to each pot and mixed thoroughly in top soil just before sowing. Seventeen treatments were tested for identifying a superior treatment for attaining maximum plant growth and yield. Based on DMRT, T17: Azotobacter chroococcum+Bacillus megaterium+Pseudomonas fluorescens superior with noticeably increased plant height, leaves per plant, branches per plant, panicle length, panicle weight, and grain yield of quinoa. We found strong positive connections between plant height and the number of leaves and branches per plant as well as between the number of leaves per plant and the number of branches per plant. Plant height, the number of leaves, and the number of branches per plant were significantly positively correlated with panicle length and panicle weight. Significant positive association between panicle weight and panicle length was observed. Plant height, leaf count, panicle length, and panicle weight all significantly positively correlated with quinoa yield. Based on regression model, quinoa yield had R2 of 0.280, 0.336 and 0.226 for predicting yield with rate of change of 17.66, 4.81and 17.58 kg/ha for unit change through plant height, number of leaves/plant, number of branches/plant respectively. Similarly, yield had R2 of 0.386 and 0.529 for predicting yield with rate of change of 126.4 and 61.42 kg/ha for unit change through panicle length and panicle weight respectively. The correlation between plant traits and quinoa yield and rate of change of yield for unit change in parameters indicated that treatments have positively influenced the plant traits, which in turn positively influenced the yield. T17: Azotobacter chroococcum + Bacillus megaterium + Pseudomonas fluorescens was superior with lowest rank sum of 21, while T10: Azotobacter chroococcum + Pseudomonas fluorescens was the 2nd best with rank sum of 60. We recommend these two superior treatments for attaining maximum plant growth and yield of quinoa. There is a need for testing the beneficial microorganisms in field condition for greater efficacy before making large scale recommendation to farmers for adoption under semi-arid Alfisols.

References

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How to cite this article

Ameer Pasha B., Salmankhan R.M., Parameshnaik C. and L. Krishna Naik (2023). Assessment of Effect of Beneficial Microorganisms on Plant Growth and Yield of Quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Wild) under Semi-arid Alfisols. Biological Forum – An International Journal, 15(2): 1251-1258.