Authors : Saeideh Ansari, Bahman Khoshru, Mohammad Reza Sarikhani and Amir Nobahar
Abstract: The beneficial effects of biofertilizers in agriculture rely on the quality of these biological products, hence, qualitative control of biofertilizer is a necessary process. Therefore, in this study, four common biofertilizers (including Barvar2, biosuperphosphate, Supernitroplus and Nitroxin) that are produced in Iran were used to assess the qualitative criteria such as bacterial populations, genus and strains identity confirmation and also the determination of some Plant Growth-Promoting (PGP) characteristics in each biofertilizer. Finally, the effect of these biofertilizers inoculation on maize (variety Single Cross 704) carried out under the greenhouse experiment. Bacterial enumeration showed that bacterial viable cell in the Supernitroplus and Barvar2 biofertilizers was (108 cfu mL–1) and in the Nitroxin and Biosuper phosphate was 107 and 106 cfu mL–1, respectively. Besides, the most solubilized P from tricalcium phosphate source related to biosuperphosphate and Barvar2 with close values to 400 and 350 mg L–1. Nitroxin and Barvar2 had great potential in auxin production. N3, N5, Bio3, SN2 and SN1 isolates produce siderophore in qualitative (orange halo zone) experiments. The potassium releasing from mica minerals by these four type didn’t significant effect and results of the production, showed Barvar 2 and Nitroxin had the highest amount. Overall, 13 isolates were obtained from biofertilizers and molecular identification results showed that these isolates belonged to Pseudomonas, Bacillus, Pantoea, Acinetobacter and Citrobacter genera. Results from the identifications revealed that two strains of the N3 and Bio2 are related to the Citrobacter and Acinetobacter genus, reflecting the lack of proper identification by producers. The result of the greenhouse experiment showed the effect of biofertilizers on chlorophyll index, N and K shoot uptake was significant (α≤0.05). Both Barvar2 and biosuperphosphate have increased N uptake in plant shoot where as super nitroplus and biosuperphosphate had maximum attribute in K uptake. None of the biofertilizers had no significant effect on the chlorophyll index.
Saeideh Ansari, Bahman Khoshru, Mohammad Reza Sarikhani and Amir Nobahar, 2021. Characterization and Quality Assessment of Four Common Commercial Biofertilizers in Iran. Agricultural Journal, 16: 1-8.