Isolation, Screening and Molecular Characterization of Potassium Solubilizing Actinomycete Streptomyces atacamensis (KSA16)

Abstract

The most prevalent nutrient is potassium (K), which makes up around 2.5% of the lithosphere. Approximately 90–98% of soil mineral K is present in the forms of feldspar (orthoclase and microcline) and mica (biotite and muscovite). Particularly in smallholder agriculture, replenishing potassium remains difficult because of its dependence on fertilizer. Potassium shortage in soil can be addressed by the use of soluble mineral potassium fertilizers; however, farmers have been constrained by the high price and restricted availability of these products. The present study aims to identify and select soil Actinomycetes from the soils used in the ceramic industry that may dilute potassium. Since feldspar, an insoluble potassium source, is used by most ceramic manufacturers as a raw ingredient, we gathered samples from these businesses. In the Gujarati cities of Morbi, Meshana, and Kadi, ceramic firms were contacted for a total of fifteen samples. 22 Actinomycetes isolates were chosen for further investigation after primary and secondary screening and inoculation onto Aleksandrov agar supplemented with 0.5 percent potassium aluminium silicate. The 16S rRNA sequence of strain KSA 16 confirmed that it was Streptomyces atacamensis. In a liquid solution, KSA 16 was the most effective in dissolving the insoluble potassium source, feldspar.