Analysis of Bulk and Pigeonpea Rhizosphere Soil in Middle Gangetic Region of Uttar Pradesh.

An investigation was carried out with bulk and pigeonpea rhizosphere soils collected from Middle Gangetic region of Uttar Pradesh (UP). Collected soils were analyzed for physicochemical characteristics, bacterial population and R/S ratio. In the present study, bacterial count of rhizosphere soils were found to range between 250x105 to 40x105 whereas in bulk soil ranging from 220x105 to 14x105. The R/S ratio ranging from 5.74 to 1.12, indicating positive rhizospheric effect in collected soil samples. In addition, bacterial population associated with bulk and pigeonpea rhizosphere soils were also evaluated in vitro plant growth promoting attributes. In the present investigation, 46%, 16.6%, 75% and 21% of bacterial population associated with rhizosphere soil were found to be phosphate solubilizing, IAA, siderophore and HCN producing respectively whereas in bulk soil 5.5%, 38.8% and 67% of bacterial population were found to be phosphate solubilizing, IAA and siderophore producing respectively. The results suggest that higher percentage of phosphate solubilizers, IAA, siderophore and HCN producers were found in rhizospheric soils of pigeonpea as comparison to bulk soils and may be exploited as biofertilizers or microbial inoculants in the soils of pigeon pea crops growing in the vicinity of middle Gangetic region of Uttar Pradesh. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]