Isolation, Biochemical Characterization and Evaluation of Indigenous Soil Bacteria from Agricultural Fields of Nanded District, Maharashtra, India for Biofertilizer Development and Plant Growth Promotion

The present investigation successfully isolated and characterized three indigenous plant growth-promoting bacterial isolates, namely Bacillus subtilis, Pseudomonas fluorescens, and Azotobacter chroococcum, from agricultural soils of Nanded District, Maharashtra. The isolates exhibited multiple beneficial biochemical and plant growth-promoting characteristics, including phosphate solubilization, nitrogen fixation, indole-3-acetic acid production, siderophore production, ammonia production, and ACC deaminase activity. Application of these bacterial inoculants significantly enhanced the growth of Vigna radiata and improved soil fertility by increasing available nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, and organic carbon. Among all treatments, the bacterial consortium produced the greatest improvement in both plant growth and soil nutrient status, demonstrating the synergistic effects of multiple beneficial microorganisms. These findings suggest that indigenous soil bacteria possess considerable potential for the development of effective biofertilizer formulations capable of reducing dependence on chemical fertilizers and promoting sustainable agricultural production. Future studies involving molecular characterization, formulation development, multi-location field trials, and long-term soil health assessment are recommended to validate their commercial application.

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