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Effect of Plant Growth-Promoting Bacteria (Pgpb) and Chemical Fertilizer Co-Inoculation on Teff Growth, Yield, and Grain Nutrient Uptake Under Greenhouse Condition

Abstract

 Application of native PGPB as bio inoculant is an alternative sustainable agricultural practice to enhance crop productivity, grain quality, and soil fertility also as conserve biodiversity. In this view, a study was to evaluate the effect of PGPB and chemical fertilizer co-inoculation on growth, yield, and grain nutrient uptake of teff varieties. A factorial experiment was laid out in a Completely Randomized Design (CRD) and replicated fourfold. A complete of 20 treatments were utilized in this study. The results revealed that the analysis of variance among treatment showed significant differences (P ≤ 0.001) on most of the agronomic traits and grain P uptake of teff varieties while also significant differences (P ≤ 0.01) for GYPP, grain Mg and Fe uptake. Whereas, interaction effects of two factors (TM*VT) were significant differences (P ≤ 0.01) for PH and GYPP. Individual treatments mean comparison results showed that inoculation of native PGPB consortium significantly affected most of the PGP traits at (P ≤ 0.05). The maximum traits like PH (189 cm), PL (66.7 cm), and NFT (4) were observed from Dz-01-196. Likewise, coinoculation of native PGPB consortium with a half dose of chemical fertilizer significant difference at (P ≤ 0.05) and markedly increased grain yield (5.25 g), SDBM (10.4 g), RDBM (2.91 g), grain N (1.99%), P (3.83%), and Ca (0.18%) uptake on Dz-01-974. Correlation analysis of GYPP among other PGP traits was showed that the grain yield per plant has a strong positive association with RDBM (r=0.86***). The present study showed that the half dose of chemical fertilizer inoculated with the consortium of native PGPB inoculants was advantageous to teff varieties production under limited chemical fertilizer inputs. Thus, the consortium of native PGPB might be used as inoculants to enhance growth, yield, yield-related traits, and grain nutrient uptake of both teff varieties also as save 50% chemical fertilizer by application of those strains with a half dose of chemical fertilizer. Further field evaluation would be necessary to form a conclusive recommendation of the study result.

 Zerihun Tsegaye*, Dagne Bekele, Debissa Lemessa, Solomon Chaniyalew, Adey Feleke, Tesfaye Alemu, Fassil Assefa

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