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Natural compounds enhancing growth and survival of rhizobial inoculants in vermicompost-based formulations

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Abstract

The present study demonstrates the usefulness of natural microbial growth-promoting compounds for improving the stability and life of vermicompost-based (both granular and its aqueous extract) bioformulations. Granular vermicompost maintained the number of cells of Rhizobium meliloti Rmd 201 up to 5.9 × 108 after 180 days at 28°C compared with 2.1 × 108 in charcoal (powdered), while aqueous extract of the vermicompost supported the 5.6 × 107 rhizobia numbers even after 270 days. The addition of 25 μL/mL cow urine and 0.01 mM calliterpinone, a natural plant growth promoter, increased the rhizobia number significantly in granular vermicompost and its aqueous extract, respectively.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Field Laboratories and Organic Farming, Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants, (Council of Scientific and Industrial Research), Lucknow, 226015, Uttar Pradesh, India

    Alok Kalra, Mahesh Chandra, Ashutosh Awasthi, Anil K. Singh & Suman Preet S. Khanuja

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  1. Alok Kalra
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  2. Mahesh Chandra
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  3. Ashutosh Awasthi
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  4. Anil K. Singh
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  5. Suman Preet S. Khanuja
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Correspondence to Alok Kalra.

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Kalra, A., Chandra, M., Awasthi, A. et al. Natural compounds enhancing growth and survival of rhizobial inoculants in vermicompost-based formulations. Biol Fertil Soils 46, 521–524 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00374-010-0443-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00374-010-0443-2

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