Open Access

ARTICLE

Bacterial Inoculation and Co-Inoculation Improves Durum Wheat Productivity in Alkaline Calcareous Soils

by Bouazza Chami^1,2, Nabil Touzout², Souad Guemouri-Athmani¹, Djamel Baali-Cherif³, Adil Mihoub⁴, Jakub Černý^5,*, Muhammad Farhan Saeed⁶, Aftab Jamal^7,*, Hayi Mohamed Yassine⁸, Yaser Hassan Dewir⁹, Aurelio Scavo¹⁰

1 Laboratoire de Biologie et Physiologie des Organismes, Faculté des Sciences Biologiques, Université des Sciences et de la Technologie Houari Boumediene, Bab Ezzouar, Alger, 16111, Algérie
2 Department of Nature and Life Sciences, Faculty of Sciences, University of Medea, Medea, 26000, Algeria
3 Laboratoire de Recherche sur les Zones Arides, USTHB/ENSA, Alger, 16111, Algeria
4 Biophysical Environment Station, Center for Scientific and Technical Research on Arid Regions, Touggourt, 30240, Algeria
5 Department of Silviculture, Forestry and Game Management Research Institute, Na Olivě 550, Opočno, 51773, Czech Republic
6 Department of Environmental Sciences, COMSATS University Islamabad, Vehari Campus, Vehari, 61100, Pakistan
7 Department of Soil and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Crop Production Sciences, The University of Agriculture, Peshawar, 25130, Pakistan
8 Department of Math and Computer Science, Faculty of Sciences, Pole Urban Ouzera, University of Medea, Medea, 26000, Algeria
9 Department of Plant Production, College of Food and Agriculture Sciences, King Saud University, Riyadh, 11451, Saudi Arabia
10 Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Messina, Polo Universitario dell’Annunziata, Messina, 98168, Italy

* Corresponding Authors: Jakub Černý. Email: ; Aftab Jamal. Email:

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany 2024, 93(12), 3313-3329. https://doi.org/10.32604/phyton.2024.059865

Received 18 October 2024; Accepted 02 December 2024; Issue published 31 December 2024

Abstract

Intensive agricultural practices have undeniably reduced soil fertility and crop productivity. Furthermore, alkaline calcareous soils represent a significant challenge for agricultural production, particularly durum wheat, which is vital for ensuring food security. It is therefore essential to explore new cereal management strategies to maintain food production and promote crop sustainability. The application of soil microorganisms, particularly plant growth–promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR), as inoculants to enhance crop production is a growing area of interest. This study investigates the effects of the rhizobacteria Paenibacillus polymyxa SGH1 and SGK2, applied both individually and in combination, on the growth and productivity of durum wheat in alkaline calcareous soil. We conducted field experiments over two growing seasons using a randomized complete block design with three blocks, considering four treatments: non-inoculated wheat grains (T0), inoculation with the P. polymyxa SGH1 strain (T1), inoculation with the P. polymyxa SGK2 strain (T2), and co-inoculation with both strains (T3). The results clearly showed that SGH1 and SGK2 inoculation improved the morphometric characteristics of wheat plants, with co-inoculation of both strains that induced more pronounced improvements compared to T0 in terms of collar diameter (+16.9%), tillers plant⁻¹ (+89.8%), and SA/RA ratio (+35.5%). Co-inoculation was also the most effective treatment for improving the wheat grain yield (+41.1% in season I and + 16.6% in season II). In addition, T3 significantly increased the grain starch content (+220%). T1 determined the highest grain protein content in both seasons (9.5% in season I and 9.66% DW in season II). This study demonstrated that bacterial inoculation and co-inoculation strategies can significantly enhance wheat productivity and grain quality in alkaline calcareous soils while reducing at the same time the ecological footprint of agriculture.

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