Elemental sulphur with sulphur oxidizing bacteria enhances phosphorus availability and improves growth and yield of wheat in calcareous soil

ABSTRACT

Sulphur-oxidizing bacteria can alter the root environment by oxidizing sulphur and lowering pH to increase nutrient availability. A field experiment was conducted on calcareous soil to assess the impact of elemental sulfur and farmyard manure enriched with sulfur-oxidizing bacteria (named microbial soil conditioner; MSC) on P and micronutrient availability, as well as on wheat growth. Five treatments, CK (Control), NPK (recommended dose of NPK), MSC (microbial soil conditioner), ½ P + MSC (half recommended dose of P with a full recommended dose of NK + MSC) and NPK +MSC (recommended dose of NPK + MSC), were used. Data regarding plant physiological and yield parameters were analyzed. The results showed that MSC + NPK and ½ P significantly enhanced the nutrient availability, particularly phosphorus and micronutrients. The highest P concentrations in wheat grain, straw and yield were obtained by the recommended dose of NPK + MSC following half recommended dose of P with NK+ MSC. This work advocates that application of sulphur and farmyard manure enriched with sulphur-oxidizing bacteria could be a beneficial strategy for improving nutrient availability, mainly phosphorus and micronutrients ultimately with improved plant growth in calcareous soils.

KEYWORDS:

• pH
• microbial soil conditioner
• micronutrient availability
• organic matter

Acknowledgements

We are extremely thankful to Dr. Robert Kempster, Lead Applications Scientist from the Plant Impact (https://www.plantimpact.com/en-gb), United Kingdom, for editing our manuscript to improve its technical quality and for correcting the English language.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).