The Application of Plant Growth Promoting Microorganisms and Phosphate Fertilizers on Yield, Yield Components and Water Use Efficiency of Wheat at Levels of Irrigation Water

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 Department of Soil Science and Engineering, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Birjand, Birjand, Iran.

2 Agronomy department, University of Birjand

3 Water engineering and science department, University of Birjand

Abstract

Background and Objectives: Water deficit and low soil fertility are the most important factors limiting plant growth and yield in arid and semiarid regions. The use of chemical fertilizers is the most common way to provide the necessary nutrients for plants including phosphorus. Due to the fixation of high amount of the phosphate fertilizers, especially in calcareous soils, overuse of these fertilizers in addition to their low efficiency, also causes environmental and economic problems.In addition to providing plant nutrients, use of beneficial soil microorganisms can increase tolerance to environmental stresses such as drought. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the role of mycorrhizal fungi and phosphate solubilizing bacteria on yield and yield components of wheat and improving the efficiency of phosphate fertilizers at different levels of irrigation water.
Materials and Methods: This study was conducted as a factorial experiment in a randomized complete block design with three replications on wheat (Anfarm 4 cultivar) at the research farm of Faculty of Agriculture, Birjand University in crop year 2017-2018.Experimental treatments consisted of four levels of irrigation water (I0, I1, I2 and I3, 100%, 75%, 50% and 25% of field capacity (FC), respectively) and four levels of fertilizer treatment (F0, F1, F2 and F3, Control, plant growth promoting microorganisms (PGPM), 150 kg ha-1 triple super phosphate (TSP), and PGPM+ 75 kg ha-1 TSP, respectively). For determination of the plant height and tiller number, 10 plants were selected from each plot and then their numbers counted. Also, the spike number, spike length, number of seeds per spike, 1000-seeds weight, grain and biological yield, seed P concentration, root colonization and water use efficiency was recorded.
Results and discussion: Results showed that with decreasing water use to 25% of FC, plant height (19%), tiller number (35%), spike number (22%), grain number (17%), 1000-grain weight (20%) and grain yield (35%) decreased, but the seed P concentration (42%) was increased. Water stress reduced grain yield more than biological yield. Application of irrigation water by 75%, 50% and 25% of FC, decreased grain yield by 25, 36 and 44% and biological yield by 21%, 30% and 38%, respectively. On the other hand, application of PGPM and chemical fertilizers increased the above parameters at various irrigation water levels. According to the results, there was no significant difference between TSP application and PGPM+ 50% TSP application at different levels of irrigation water for most of the studied indices such as spike number, seed number, 1000-seeds weight, grain yield and seed P concentration. Combined application of PGPM+ 50% TSP at irrigation water levels of 75, 50 and 25% of FC, increased grain yield by 79, 88 and 75% and biological yield by 57, 71 and 61%, respectively compared with the same irrigation water levels.
The positive effect of PGPM on yield and yield components of wheat, especially under water deficit conditions,can be attributed to the production of auxin, organic acids and siderophore by bacteria, and the colonization of roots by fungi and access to more soil points, thereby increasing the uptake of nutrients such as phosphorus and water for the plant.
Conclusion: According to the results, although the application of chemical fertilizers had the most effect on most of the measured indices, the application of PGPM with 50% of chemical fertilizer was not statistically different from the full application of fertilizer. In other words, due to the environmental problems and high cost of chemical fertilizers, Therefore, the simultaneous application of chemical fertilizer and PGPM is recommended, especially in conditions of water scarcity in wheat production.

Keywords


  1. Adesemoye, A.O., and Kloepper, J.W. 2009. Plant–microbes interactions in enhanced fertilizer-use efficiency. Appl. Microbiol. Biotechnol. 85: 1. 1-12.
  2. Adesemoye, A.O., Torbert, H.A., and Kloepper, J.W. 2009. Plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria allow reduced application rates of chemical fertilizers. Microb. Ecol. 58: 4. 921-929.
  3. Augé, R.M., Toler, H.D., and Saxton, A.M. 2015. Arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis alters stomatal conductance of host plants more under drought than under amply watered conditions: a meta-analysis. Mycorrhiza. 25: 1. 13-24.
  4. Das, K., Katiyar, V., and Goel, R. 2003. Phophorous solubilization potential of plant growth promoting Pseudomonas mutants at low temperature. Microbiol. Res. 158: 4. 359-362.
  5. Duggan, B.L., and Fowler, D.B. 2006. Yield structure and kernel potential of winter wheat on the Canadian prairies. Crop Sci. 46: 4. 1479-1488.
  6. Earl, H., and Davis, R. F. 2003. Effect of drought stress on leaf and whole canopy radiation use efficiency and yield of maize. Agron. J. 95: 3. 688-696.
  7. Emam, Y. 2007. Cereal crops. Shiraz University Press, 190p. (In Persian)
  8. Emami, S., Alikhani, H.A., Pourbabaei, A.A., Etesami, H., MotashareZadeh, B., and Sarmadian, F. 2018. Improved growth and nutrient acquisition of wheat genotypes in phosphorus deficient soils by plant growth-promoting rhizospheric and endophytic bacteria. Soil Sci. Plant Nutr. 64: 6. 719-727.
  9. FallahNosrat Abad, A., and Shariati, Sh. 2014. Effect of Pseudomonas and Bacillus bacteria on yield and nutrient uptake in comparison with chemical and organic fertilizers in wheat. J. Water Soil 28: 5. 976-986. (In Persian)
  10. Farooq, M.A., Wahid, N., Kobayashi, D.F., and Basra, S.M.A. 2009. Plant drought stress: effects, mechanisms and management. Agron. Sustain. Dev. 29: 1. 185-212.
  11. Garg, N., and Bhandari, P. 2016. Silicon nutrition and mycorrhizal inoculations improve growth, nutrient status, K+/Na+ ratio and yield of Cicer arietinum L. genotypes under salinity stress. Plant Growth Regul. 78: 3. 371-378.
  12. Ghorchiani, M., Etesami, H., and Alikhani, H.A. 2018. Improvement of growth and yield of maize under water stress by co-inoculating an arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus and a plant growth promoting rhizobacterium together with phosphate fertilizers. Agric. Ecosyst. Environ. 258: 1. 59-70.
  13. Giovannetti, M., and Mosse, B. 1980. An evaluation of techniques for measuring vesicular-arbuscular infection in roots. New Phytol. 84: 3. 489-500.
  14. Gyaneshwar, P., Kumar, G.N., Parekh, L.J., and Poole, P.S. 2002. Role of Soil Microorganisms in Improving P Nutrition of Plants, Food Security in Nutrient-stressed Environments: Exploiting Plants’ Genetic Capabilities. Springer, Pp, 133-143.
  15. Jian-yong, W., You-Cai, X., Feng-Min, L., Kadambot, H.M., and Neil, C.T. 2017. Effects of drought stress on morpho-physiological traits, biochemical characteristics, yield, and yield components in different ploidy wheat: A meta-analysis. Adv. Agron. 134: 1. 139-173.
  16. Jilani, G., Akram, A., Ali, R.M., Hafeez, F.Y., Shamsi, I.H., Chaudhry, A.N., and Chaudhry, A.G. 2007. Enhancing crop growth, nutrients availability, economics and beneficial rhizospheremicroflora through organic and biofertilizers. Ann. Microbiol. 57: 2. 177-183.
  17. Jones, J.B. 2001. Laboratory guide for conducting soil tests and plant analysis, 384. Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press. 382 p.
  18. Karimian, N., and Tehrani, M.M. 2018. Soil fertility, In: The soils of Iran. Roozitalab, M.H., Siadat, H., and Farshad, A., Eds. Springer, Switzerlans. 143 p.
  19. Karlidag, H., Esitken, A., Turan, M., and Sahin, F. 2007. Effects of root inoculation of plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) on yield, growth and nutrient elements contents of leaves of apple. Sci. Hortic. 114: 1. 16-20.
  20. Khan, M.S., Zaidi, A., and Ahmad, E. 2014. Mechanism of phosphate solubilization and physiological functions of phosphate-solubilizing microorganisms. Phosphate Solubilizing Microorganisms. Springer, Pp, 31-62.
  21. Liu, E.K., Mei, X.R., Yan, C.R., Gong, D.Z., and Zhang, Y.Q. 2016. Effects of water stress on photosynthetic characteristics, dry matter translocation and WUE in two winter wheat genotypes. Agric. Water Manag. 167: 1. 75-85.
  22. Mäder, P., Kaiser, F., Adholeya, A., Singh, R., Uppal, H.S., Sharma, A.K., Srivastava, R., Sahai, V., Aragno, M., and Wiemken, A. 2011. Inoculation of root microorganisms for sustainable wheat–rice and wheat–black gram rotations in India. Soil Biol. Biochem. 43: 3. 609-619.
  23. Malakouti, M.J., Keshavarz, P., and Karimian, N. 2008. A comprehensive approach towards identification of nutrient deficiencies and optimal fertilization for sustainable agriculture. Tarbiat Modares University Press, Tehran, Iran. 804 p. ( In Persian)
  24. Malek, M.M., Galavi, M., Ramroudi, M., and Nakhzari Moghaddam, A. 2019. Evaluation of drought tolerance of wheat cultivars under water deficiency stress after flowering. J. Crop Prod. 12: 2. 123-136. (In Persian)
  25. Ortas, I., Sari, N., Akpinar, C., and Yetisir, H. 2011. Screening mycorrhiza species  for  plant  growth,  P  and  Zn uptake  in  pepper  seedling  grown  under greenhouse  conditions. Sci. Hortic. 128: 2. 92-98.
  26. Pandey, R.K., Maranville, J.W., and Adamou, A., 2001. Tropical wheat response to irrigation and nitrogen in a sahelian environment. I. Grain yield, yield components and water use efficiency. Eur. J. Agron. 15: 2. 93-105.
  27. Pandey, R.K., Maranville, J.W., and Chetima, M.M. 2000. Deficit irrigation and nitrogen effects on maize in a Sahelian environment: II. Shoot growth, nitrogen uptake and water extraction. Agric. Water Manag. 46: 1. 15-27.
  28. Paolo, E.D., and Rinaldi, M. 2008. Yield response of corn to irrigation and nitrogen fertilization in a Mediterranean environment. Field Crops Res. 105: 3. 202-210.
  29. Patten, C.L., and Glick, B.R. 2002. Role of Pseudomonas putida indole acetic acid in development of the host plant root system. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 68: 8. 3795-3801.
  30. Phillips, J.M., and Hayman, D.S. 1970. Improved procedures for clearing roots and staining parasitic vesicular-arbuscular mycorrizal fungi for rapid assessment of infection. Trans. Br. Mycol. Soc. 55: 1. 158-161.
  31. Razzaq, A., Mahmood, I., Iqbal, J., Rasheed, A.Q.M., and Ahmad, M. 2013. Enhancing drought tolerance of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) through chemical priming. Wulfenia. 20: 7. 44-58.
  32. Rebetzke, G.J. 2002. Selection for reduced carbon-isotope discrimination increases aerial biomass and grain yield of rainfed bread wheat. Crop Sci. 42: 3. 453-465.
  33. Rejali, F., Esmaeilizad, A., and Saghafi, K. 2019. Effect of symbiosis interaction of mycorrhizae arbuscular on mineral uptake in wheat (Pishtaz cultivar). Iranian J. Field Crop Sci. 49: 4. 51-65.
  34. Reynolds, M.P., Ortizi-Monasterio, I., and McNab, A. 2001. Application of physiology in wheat breeding. CIMMYT, Mexico, 240 p.
  35. Rezakhani, L., Motesharezadeh, B., Tehrani, M.M., Etesami, H., and Hosseini, H.M. 2019. Phosphate–solubilizing bacteria and silicon synergistically augment phosphorus (P) uptake by wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) plant fertilized with soluble or insoluble P source. Ecotoxicol. Environ. Saf. 173: 1. 504-513.
  36. Sawers, R.J.H., Gutjahr, C., and Paszkowski, U. 2008. Cereal mycorrhiza: an ancient symbiosis in modern agriculture. Trends Plant Sci. 13: 2. 93-97.
  37. Saxena, M.J., Chandra, S., and Nain, L. 2013. Synergistic effect of phosphate solubilizing rhizobacteria and arbuscular mycorrhiza on growth and yield of wheat plants. J. Soil Sci. Plant Nutr. 13: 2. 511-525.
  38. Shahidi, A. 2008. Interaction of deficit irrigation and salinity on yield and yield components of wheat cultivars and determining water–salinity production function in the Birjand region. PhD Thesis, Shahid Chamran University. (In Persian)
  39. Sharma, A.K. 2002. Biofertilizers for sustainable agriculture. Agrobios Indian Publications. 456 p.
  40. Sharma, S.B., Sayyed, R.Z., Trivedi, M.H., and Gobi, T.A. 2013. Phosphate solubilizing microbes: sustainable approach for managing phosphorus deficiency in agricultural soils. Springer Plus 2. 587 p.
  41. Sharp, R.E., Poroyko, V., Hejlek, J.G., Spollen, W.G., Springer, G.K., Bohnert, H.J., and Nguyen, H.T. 2004. Root growth maintenance during water deficits: physiology to functional genomics. J. Exp. Bot. 55: 407. 2343-2351.
  42. Siddique, M.R.B., Hamid, A., and Islam, M.S., 1999. Drought stress effects on photosynthesis rate and leaf gas exchange of wheat Bot Bull. Academic Sci. 40: 1. 141-145.
  43. Soleymani, A. 2016. Effect of drought stress on yield and yield components of wheat by ET-HS model. Environ. Stresses Crop Sci. 9: 3. 205-313. (In Persian)
  44. Tardieu, F. 2011. Any trait or trait-related allele can confer drought tolerance: just design the right drought scenario. J. Exp. Bot. 63: 1. 25-31.
  45. Wilkinson, S., and Davies, W.J. 2010. Drought, ozone, ABA and ethylene: new insights from cell to plant to community. Plant cell Environ. 33: 4. 510-525.
  46. Zaidi, A., Khan, M.S., Ahemad, M., Oves, M., and Wani, P.A. 2009. Recent advances in plant growth promotion by phosphate-solubilizing microbes, microbial strategies for crop improvement. Springer, Pp, 23-50.

5.    Dehghanzadeh, H. 2019. Evaluation of some physiological growth indices effective on growth and grain yield of three wheat cultivars under drought stress. Environ. Stresses Crop Sci. 12: 2. 365-375. (In Persian)

16.              Habibi, S., Meskarbashee, M., and Farzaneh, M. 2015. Effect of mycorrhizal fungus (Glomus spp) on wheat (Triticum aestivum) yield and yield components with regard to irrigation water quality. Iranian J. Field Crops Res. 13: 3. 471-483. (In Persian)

23.              Kordzangeneh, R., and Marashi, S.K. 2018. Studying the effects of combined application of chemical and biological fertilizers of potassium on yield and yield components of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) under soil moisture shortage. Environ. Stresses Crop Sci. 11: 4. 863-872. (In Persian)

41.              Sepehri, A., Modarres Sanavi, S.A., Gharehyazi, B., and Yamini, Y. 2002. Effect of water deficit and different nitrogen rates on growth and development stages, yield and yield component of maize (Zea mays L.). Iranian J. Crop Sci. 4: 3. 184-201. (In Persian)

43.              Shahidi, A., and Miri, Z. 2018. The effect of salinity on yield and yield components of two wheat cultivars in the plain of Birjand. J. Crop Prod. 11: 2. 51-61. (In Persian)