The Effects of Phosphate Solubilizing Rhizobacteria on Soybean (Glycine max. L.) Plants Grown under Insoluble Phosphate Fertilization

The aim of this study was to assess the comparative efficacy of two phosphorus solubilizing rhizobacteria namely Burkholderia cepacia B36 and Enterobacter radicincitans D5/23T combined with insoluble phosphates in soybean ( Glycine max . L.). Inoculated plants were grown in sand culture under controlled greenhouse conditions. All the inoculated treatments showed better plant growth and nutrient uptake when compared to uninoculated control. The inoculation with B. cepacia performed better than with E. radicincitans . Phosphorus concentrations in shoots and roots did not change significantly at the early stage of plant growth. However, the bacterial inoculation had better stimulatory effect on phosphorus uptake by soybean fertilized with insoluble phosphates, in particular in treatment with combined application of both bacteria strains.