Comparative Study of Different Soil Amendments and Microbes for Integrated Nutrient Management and Growth Promotion of Jatropha Curcas

Abstract

Increased alkalinity caused reduction in growth of Jatropha curcas plant. This experiment was designed to test the efficacy of beneficial microbes and vermicompost individually and in combinations to alleviate the stressful effect of alkaline stress on growth of Jatropha. Plants inoculated with bacterial consortia had significantly increase in vegetative growth parameters. Soil analysis showed increase in total organic carbon (TOC) by 68% compared to soil before plantation treated with Bacterial consortia + vermicompost. Nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) content in the soil was increased by 25% and 84% before plantation treated with Bacterial consortia. Maximum uptake of potassium (K) and sodium (Na) content was observed in consortia. Plant analysis showed that consortia could increase uptake of micronutrients compared to control and other treatments. It can be concluded that multispecies bacterial consortia alone or in combination with mycorrhiza and vermicompost can reduce alkaline stress and enhances the seed germination potential, vegetative growth, and nutrient status of soil.

Keywords:

• consortia
• mycorrhizal fungi
• vermicompost
• nutrient management
• Jatropha

Additional information

Funding

Funding for this study was obtained by the lead author, Meenu Saraf, from British Petroleum International Ltd (BP).