Abstract
Soil microbes such as plant growth promoting rhizobacteria play significant roles in the solubilisation of inorganic phosphorus (P), mineralization of organic P and in improving plant P uptake. It is known that phosphate solubilising microorganisms (PSM) populations largely vary depending on the ecosystems, the cropping systems or the soil management. The capacity of Minjingu phosphate rock (PR) to enhance the populations of native PSM under three cereal–legume rotation systems was assessed in the third season of rotation. Triple super phosphate (TSP) was used as a positive control. In comparison to the negative control, application of Minjingu PR increased the total fungal diversity and phosphate solubilising bacteria (PSB) population by 67–90 % while high rates of TSP significantly (p < 0.05) reduced bacterial diversity and populations of PSB by 46–69 %. Minjingu PR also resulted in both crop and legume yields increase (41–104 % compared to the control), which were similar to those obtained with TSP application. Cropping systems incorporating sparingly soluble P sources such as Minjingu PR into soils can stimulate the populations of native PSB and agronomic productivity. They may represent a promising way of minimizing the utilization of mineral P fertilizers.
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Acknowledgments
The authors are grateful to the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation for the financial support towards this study through the Commercial Products project (“COMPRO”) and AfNET program coordinated by the Tropical Soil Biology and Fertility Institute of CIAT (TSBF- CIAT). Field technicians, Mukalama, J. and Aswani are appreciated for managing the trial. We are also indebted to TSBF-CIAT for providing the laboratory facilities and chemicals for studies.
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Ndungu-Magiroi, K.W., Waswa, B., Bationo, A. et al. Minjingu phosphate rock applications increase the population of phosphate solubilising microorganisms with a positive impact on crop yields in a Kenyan Ferralsol. Nutr Cycl Agroecosyst 102, 91–99 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10705-014-9661-6
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10705-014-9661-6