MEENAKSHI PAHWA, KRISHAN K. KAPOOR, AJAY KUMAR, DILFUZA JABBOROVA AND NAMITA SINGH*
Lab No. 202 Microbial Biotechnology, Department of Bio and Nano Technology, Guru Jambheshwar University of Science and Technology, Hisar-125 001 (Haryana), India
*(e-mail: namitasingh71@gmail.com; Telephone: 00911662263312)
(Received: May 3, 2025; Accepted: June 4, 2025)
ABSTRACT
In this study, three bacterial strains–Bacillus cereus (C1, Accession no-ON787613), Bacillus subtilis (C2, Accession no-ON787623) and Brevibacillus borstelensis (C3, Accession no-ON720969) were isolated from distinct agricultural soils and characterized through molecular techniques. These strains were tested for their potential as plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) in a pot experiment with Brassica juncea to evaluate their impact on soil properties and plant growth. The experiment aimed at assessing changes in soil parameters, such as total organic carbon (TOC), pH, water-holding capacity (WHC) and nutrient availability after bacterial inoculation. The results demonstrated that all three strains significantly improved soil health, as indicated by increased TOC, elevated pH, enhanced WHC and improved macronutrient and micronutrient availability. Furthermore, the inoculated plants exhibited higher growth as reflected by increased plant height and dry biomass. When combined with NPK fertilizers, the bacterial isolates further boosted soil and plant performance. These findings underscore the potential of Bacillus cereus, Bacillus subtilis and Brevibacillus borstelensis as effective bio-inoculants for sustainable agriculture.
Key words: Bacillus, Brassica juncea, mustard, phosphate solubilization, rhizobacteria