B.S. Nalini1, L. Krishna Naik1, Nausheen Saba1,
Priyanka Prasad2 and G. Ashiwini1

1Department of Microbiology, University of Agricultural Sciences, Bengaluru- 560 065, Karnataka, India.
2Department of Forestry & Environmental Science, University of Agricultural Sciences, Bengaluru- 560 065, Karnataka, India.

DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.22207/JPAM.11.2.31

 

Abstract

Capsicum is a genus of flowering plants in the nightshade family Solanaceae. Capsicum is rich in beta carotene, capsaicin, vitamin A, C and antioxidant properties. Microbial inoculants are used to improve plant nutrition and also promote plant growth by stimulating plant hormone production. In order to increase growth and yield of capsicum, an experiment was conducted under greenhouse by using different combination of microbial inoculants [Azotobacterchroococcum(AC) as nitrogen fixers, Bacillus megaterium(BM) as Phosphate solubilizer, Glomusfasciculatum(GF)as phosphate mobilizer] at different level of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium (50%,75%, 100%) along with recommended dose of farm yard manure and vermicompost. Different growth parameters and yield parameters were significantly superior in the plants treated with combination of AC+BM+75% nitrogen and phosphorus +100% potassium + vermicompost. This was followed by treatment combination (AC+BM+GF+ 75% nitrogen and phosphorus+100% potassium +Farm yard manure) and least growth and yield was observed in the plants treated with the combination of 75% nitrogen and phosphorus +100% potassium. The results indicated that the combined effect of microbial inoculants and inorganic fertilizer have best effect on growth and yield of capsicum.

Keywords: Microbial inoculants, growth and yield, capsicum.

Introduction

Capsicum is one of the most important vegetable crops and is widely cultivated throughout the warm, temperate, tropical and subtropical countries. Capsicum is native to mexico. With the increasing demand for food production, it was imperative to use high yielding varieties, chemical fertilizers and pesticides. But with the tremendous use of these chemicals, the soil has been affected badly and the ill effects on soil properties have been noticed. To overcome this problem, it has become important to substantially increase the organic matter content of soil and to use ecofriendly plant nutrient sources like Biofertilizers.Mixed inoculants (combinations of microorganisms) interact synergistically which yields better and show quick results. Many research have evidenced that development of plant growth promoting microbial consortium, could be a feasible technology for increasing the crop productivity with savings in chemical fertilizers application to an extent of 25 to 30%. The constituent strains in the consortium not only out-compete with others for rhizospheric establishment but complement functionally for plant growth promotion (Pandey and Maheshwari, 2007).In the recent years, scientists have diverted their attention towards exploring the potentiality of these beneficial microorganisms for growth promotion and to obtain quality yields.In this context, this research study was initiated to study the plant growth promoting effect of biofertilizers on an important solanaceous crop like capsicum.

 

Material and Methods

The microbial inoculant of 24hr old pure cultures of Azotobacterchroococcum and Bacillus megateriumwere transferred aseptically into flasks containing Waksmann No. 77 broth and Sperber’s broth respectively with the help of inoculation loop and incubated on a mechanical shaker for 3 days for growth and mixed with carrier material.Effectiveness of these inoculants were tested onCapsicum(cv. indira) crop in a replicated pot culture study under glass house conditions.Observations of plant growth parameters like plant height, number of leaves per plant, leaf area were recorded at 15, 30, 45 and 60 days after transplanting (DAT) were recorded.Shoot and root dry weight was recorded after harvest of the crop.Estimation of chlorophyll was done by the method suggested by Witham et al., (1971).Observations of yield parameters were recorded after harvest of the crop. After the development of fruits, number of fruits per plant was recorded at 15 days intervals. After harvest of the fruit, number of fruits/plant, average weight and length of thefruit were recorded.The fresh weight of the fruit  harvested  from  different treatments  were  weighed  and  average  weight  was  recorded. The weight of matured fruits harvested from each picking was recorded till final harvest and total yield per plant was computed.

 

Treatments details

T1–Azotobacterchroococcum(AC)+75%N+100%PK+FYM

T2– AC+ Bacillus megaterium(BM)+75%NP+100%K+FYM

T3– AC+BM+Glomusfasciculatum(GF)+75%NP+100%K+FYM

T4– Azotobacterchroococcum(AC)+50%N+100%PK+FYM

T5– AC+ Bacillus megaterium(BM)+50%NP+100%K+FYM

T6– AC+BM+GF+50%NP+100%K+FYM

T7–Azotobacterchroococcum(AC)+75%N+100%PK+vermicompost(VC)

T8– AC+ Bacillus megaterium(BM)+75%NP+100%K+VC

T9– AC+BM+ GF +75%NP+100%K+VC

T10–Azotobacterchroococcum(AC)+50%N+100%PK+VC

T11– AC+ Bacillus megaterium(BM)+50%NP+100%K+VC

T12– AC+BM+ GF +50%NP+100%K+VC

T13– 75%NP+100%K

T14– 50%NP+100%K

T15– 100%NPK

The amount of chlorophyll present per gram of leaf tissue was calculated by following formula-

  • Chlorophyll-a mg/g of leaf = 12.7(A663)- 2.69 (A645) ×V/(1000×w)
  • Chlorophyll-b mg/g of leaf = 22.9(A645)- 4.68 (A663) ×V/(1000×w)
  • Total chlorophyll mg/g of leaf = 20.2(A645)+ 8.02 (A663) ×V/(1000×w)

Where- A= Absorbance at specific wavelength,V= final volume of extract

w= fresh weight of leaf tissue taken

Results and discussion

Single, dual and consortium of Azotobacterchroococcum, Bacillus megaterium, and Glomusfasciculatumwith different level of NPK fertilizers were tested in a glass house experiment to find out the effects ofdifferent microbial inoculantson growth parameters in Capsicum. The results thus obtained are discussed below.

Among different treatments, significantly maximum plant height was recorded in Capsicum plants inoculated with Azotobacterchroococcum + Bacillus megaterium + Glomusfasciculatum+75%NP+100%K+Vermicompost (71.46cm)and minimum was from uninoculated plants with 75% NP and 100%K(51.70cm)(Table 1).

Table 1: Effect of microbial inoculants on plant height of Capsicum at different stages of crop

growth under glass house condition
Treatments Plant height(cm)
15DAT 30DAT 45DAT 60DAT 75DAT 90DAT Mean
T1 14.80 32.26 62.53 71.53 72.80 74.33 54.71
T2 18.20 38.50 75.33 84.46 86.73 87.66 65.15
T3 19.56 42.40 80.26 89.93 92.53 93.33 69.46
T4 16.46 41.13 67.40 76.73 79.33 80.16 60.60
T5 18.60 39.53 77.40 86.40 89.66 90.16 66.96
T6 17.76 37.63 73.26 82.60 85.53 85.66 63.74
T7 15.61 33.13 64.26 73.33 76.26 77.20 56.63
T8 17.66 38.33 73.66 82.73 86.33 87.26 64.33
T9 20.26 43.53 83.46 91.86 95.13 95.66 71.46
T10 16.76 35.53 69.40 78.46 81.40 82.13 60.61
T11 18.96 40.33 78.33 87.40 84.33 85.33 65.78
T12 17.33 36.76 71.40 80.46 83.40 84.30 62.28
T13 14.33 30.33 58.33 66.73 70.33 70.45 51.70
T14 14.53 31.33 59.68 69.08 72.08 72.16 53.14
T15 15.53 33.33 64.33 72.73 75.73 76.10 56.29
SE± 0.18 0.23 0.24 0.26 0.26 0.25 0.24
CD @ 5% 0.53 0.69 0.76 0.77 0.78 0.74 0.76

Note: DAT-Days after transplanting

Compared to 75% NP, the plants inoculated with microbial inoculants +75%NP+100%K showed significant results. This might be due to rapid multiplication of microorganisms applied to soil leading to positive effect on plant growth due to soil plant microbe interactions. Similar results were obtained from the study conducted by Sachin and Mishra, 2009, which showed that introduction of PGPR microorganisms into the soil, indirectly prevents deleterious effects of one or more phytopathogenic microorganisms in the rhizosphere and directly help in plant growth promotion by production of IAA and by release of secondary metabolites such as plant growth regulators or facilitating the uptake of certain nutrients from the root environment.

Plants receiving microbial inoculants containingAzotobacterchroococcum+ Bacillus megaterium + Glomusfasciculatum+75%NP+100%K+Vermicompost recorded highest number of branches/plant (15.37), number of leaves/plant (50.03) and leaf area (73.82cm). The least number was observed in uninoculated plants (10.66 no. of branch/pl.,37.19no. of leaves/pl. ,56.25cm leaf area) receiving only inorganic fertilizers (Table 2 and 3).

Table 2: Effect of microbial inoculants on number of leaves/plant of Capsicum at different

stages ofcrop growth
Treatments Number of leaves/plant
15DAT 30DAT 45DAT 60DAT 75DAT Mean
T1 14.20 24.20 48.40 53.40 53.73 38.79
T2 16.40 27.33 52.80 58.06 58.40 42.60
T3 19.20 29.40 58.40 63.40 63.73 46.83
T4 15.26 25.26 50.53 54.66 55.00 40.14
T5 18.40 28.46 57.13 62.13 62.46 45.72
T6 19.13 29.20 55.66 60.66 61.33 45.20
T7 14.40 24.40 49.13 54.13 54.46 39.30
T8 16.20 26.20 52.40 57.40 57.73 41.99
T9 21.20 31.40 62.40 67.40 67.73 50.03
T10 15.40 25.40 51.13 56.13 56.46 40.90
T11 18.66 28.66 57.66 62.66 63.00 46.13
T12 18.60 28.60 57.53 62.86 63.20 46.16
T13 13.20 23.20 46.40 51.40 51.73 37.19
T14 13.40 23.40 47.13 52.13 52.46 37.70
T15 15.33 25.33 50.33 55.33 55.66 40.40
SE± 0.19 0.21 0.23 0.25 0.27 0.21
CD@5% 0.56 0.63 0..69 0.74 0.82 0.63

Note: DAT-Days after transplanting

Table 3:  Effect of microbial inoculants on leaf area of Capsicum at different stages of crop  

Treatments Leaf area(cm)
15DAT 30DAT 45DAT 60DAT 75DAT     Mean
T1 32.53 42.53 74.40 76.33 76.67 60.49
T2 35.26 45.20 80.53 82.33 82.33 65.13
T3 39.33 49.33 87.40 89.33 89.67 71.01
T4 31.60 41.53 73.53 75.20 75.53 59.48
T5 34.40 44.33 79.33 81.06 81.40 64.10
T6 39.20 49.00 87.33 88.60 88.93 70.61
T7 30.34 40.33 71.33 73.60 73.93 57.91
T8 35.33 45.07 80.33 81.40 82.06 64.84
T9 40.21 50.21 91.33 93.33 94.00 73.82
T10 33.46 43.06 76.13 78.46 78.46 61.91
T11 38.40 48.61 86.06 88.33 88.66 70.01
T12 39.00 46.40 87.00 88.80 89.46 70.13
T13 29.00 39.40 69.33 71.13 71.46 56.25
T14 29.60 39.73 71.33 73.46 73.46 57.33
T15 35.33 45.06 81.33 82.60 83.93 65.65
SE± 0.25 0.26 0.27 0.46 0.49 0.40
CD@5% 0.76 0.78 0.81 1.38 1.46 1.20
growthunder glass house condition

Note: DAT-Days after transplanting

Table 4: Effect of microbial inoculants on Chlorophyll-a, Chlorophyll-b and total Chlorophyll content of the plant at flowering stage

Treatments Chlorophyll (mg/g of plant)
Chlorophyll-a Chlorophyll-b Total Chlorophyll
T1 1.48 0.82 2.33
T2 1.82 0.86 2.63
T3 2.07 1.09 3.16
T4 1.53 0.84 2.34
T5 1.84 0.90 2.74
T6 1.94 0.95 2.89
T7 1.52 0.81 2.61
T8 1.83 0.83 2.63
T9 2.22 1.20 3.42
T10 1.56 0.77 2.33
T11 2.01 0.89 2.90
T12 1.96 0.80 2.76
T13 1.33 0.68 1.98
T14 1.35 0.72 2.03
T15 1.46 0.82 2.28
SE± 0.11 0.09 0.10
 CD@5% 0.34 0.27 0.31

 

These results might be due to co-inoculation of different microbial inoculants and synergestic interaction among them. The number of branches and leaves per plant might have increased due to increased availability of nutrients (nitrogen, phosphorus) and by production of growth promoting substances by microbial inoculants. Similar result was obtained by Gholaniet al. (2009)which showed that the phosphobacteria solubilizes and increase the availability of phosphorus to the plants and its greater uptake. These results are in confirmation with the findings of Sutharet al. (2005) in brinjal.

Highest chlorophyll content was found in Capsicum (capsicum annum) inoculated with Azotobacterchroococcum + Bacillus megaterium + Glomusfasciculatum+75%NP +100%K +Vermicompost(3.42mg/g of pl.) compared to uninoculated control (1.98mg/g of pl.)with different doses of inorganic fertilizers (Table 4). Highest number of fruits per plant was observed in plants inoculated with Azotobacterchroococcum + Bacillus megaterium + Glomusfasciculatum+75%NP +100%K +Vermicompost (6.44 fruits/pl.) compared to uninoculated control (3.40fruits/pl.) with different doses of inorganic fertilizers resulting in good fruit yield (Table 5).

Table 5: Effect of microbial inoculants on fruit yield and other parameters of fruit at different

stages of crop growth under glass house condition
    Treatments No.of fruits/pl. Average fruit wt./pt.(gm) Average Diameter of fruit(cm) Average Fruit length(cm)
60DAT 75DAT 90DAT Mean
T1 5.33 3.67 4.33 4.44 50.60 19.20 5.66
T2 5.33 4.67 4.33 4.78 62.86 21.40 6.33
T3 7.80 5.40 5.33 6.11 75.73 22.33 7.73
T4 5.33 4.45 4.33 4.11 51.76 18.53 5.80
T5 5.33 3.67 4.33 4.43 60.93 20.13 6.13
T6 7.13 5.67 4.33 5.78 70.46 21.20 6.60
T7 4.33 3.67 3.33 3.78 53.46 19.06 6.06
T8 5.33 5.17 4.33 5.11 63.73 21.60 6.46
T9 8.33 5.67 5.50 6.44 80.66 23.33 8.40
T10 3.33 3.67 3.33 4.54 52.60 18.13 5.60
T11 5.33 3.67 4.33 4.44 61.66 20.33 6.20
T12 7.33 4.67 4.33 5.44 71.53 20.73 7.33
T13 4.33 3.40 2.33 3.40 41.60 18.33 4.66
T14 4.60 3.67 3.33 3.44 50.46 17.00 5.73
T15 6.33 3.70 3.33 4.44 51.73 20.60 4.33
SE± 0.32 0.33 0.32 0.32 0.18 0.21 0.21
CD@5% 0.97 0.98 0.96 0.96 0.53 0.64 0.63

Note: DAT-Days after transplanting

Table 6: Effect of microbial inoculants on total biomass of Capsicum plant underglass house 

condition after harvest of the crops
         Treatments       
Shoot dry weight (g/pl.)
Root dry weight (g/pl.)
Total biomass

(g/pl.)
T1
4.75
2.45
7.23
T2
5.63
2.55
8.15
T3
6.33
3.45
9.75
T4
4.65
2.30
6.95
T5
5.45
2.60
8.05
T6
6.03
3.25
9.25
T7
4.95
2.05
7.03
T8
5.83
2.65
8.45
T9
6.95
3.53
10.45
T10
5.03
2.13
7.13
T11
6.13
3.13
9.23
T12
5.95
3.35
8.96
T13
4.25
2.03
6.73
T14
4.53
2.23
6.35
T15
4.80
2.33
7.13
SE±
0.23
0.20
0.32
  CD@5%
0.68
0.61
0.97

 

Root dry weight, shoot dry weight and total dry weight of Capsicum plant increased significantly due to the inoculation of A. chroococcum, B. megateriumand Glomusfasciculatum (Table 6). The treatment which received Azotobacterchroococcum + Bacillus megaterium + Glomusfasciculatum+75%NP+100%K+Vermicompost (T9)(10.45g/pl.) recorded higher dry weight compared to uninoculated plants(6.35g/pl.) with different levels of NPK fertilizers .

This could be due to the beneficial properties of vermicompost such as high nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium and micronutrients etc. Since the vermicompost is having high nutrient value which may influence on the higher dry weight of plant compared to FYM. It may be  due to inoculation of crop plants with certain strains of PGPR microorganisms at an early stage which might have improved biomass production though their direct effects on root and shoot growth.

Similar results were earlier reported by Dattaet al, (2011) and Gandhi and Sivakumar (2010).Generally the plant dry matter content increased by the influence of bioinoculants(Adhikariet al., 2001).

Conclusions

Effect ofmicrobial inoculants on growth and yield of capsicum revealed that,different growth parameters like plant height, number of branches, number of leaves, leaf area and yield parameters like number of fruits per plant, average fruit weight, fruit length and diameter significantly increased at different stages of crop growth in the treatment which received three different microbial inoculants viz.,Azotobacterchroococcum, Bacillus megaterium and Glomusfasciculatumwith 75% of nitrogen,phosphorus and 100% potassium along with vermicompost. Highest chlorophyll content (3.42mg/g of pl.)  was recorded with the treatment receiving three different microbial inoculants (Azotobacterchroococcum, Bacillus megaterium and Glomusfasciculatumwith 75% of nitrogen,phosphorus and 100%potassium along with vermicompost. The population of Azotobacterchroococcum, Bacillus megaterium and Glomusfasciculatumwas enhanced wherever they were inoculated and synergistically enhanced the availability of nutrients to plants for improved plant growth. It is also found from the results that consortial application of microbial inoculants was found more advantageous than the individual inoculation in terms of improving crop growth and yield of Capsicum.

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