Debora Dellaocto Melati Ambarita 1,2, Muhammad Tazkiya 3, Betty Natalie Fitriatin 4 and Tualar Simarmata 4
1 Doctoral Student of Agricultural Science Program Faculty of Agriculture, Sumedang 45363, Indonesia
2 University of Bangka Belitung, Department of Agrotechnology, 33172, Indonesia
3 University of Padjadjaran, Agrotechnology Study Program, Faculty of Agriculture, Sumedang 45363, Indonesia
4 University of Padjadjaran, Department of Soil Science and Land Resources, Faculty of Agriculture, Sumedang 45363, Indonesia
Ambarita, D. D. M., Tazkiya, M., Fitriatin, B. N. & Simarmata, T. (2025). Enhancing phosphate avaibility and maize adaptibility to acidic stress condition, through the inoculation of native acid tolerant rhizosphosphate bacterial isolate. Bulg. J. Agric. Sci., 31(4), 748–758
The utilization of acidic land for the cultivation of maize is confronted by various limiting factors, including soil acidity and low fertility, mainly due to the fixation of phosphorus by aluminum ions. This research aims to assess the compatibility of selected isolates Phosphate-Solubilizing Rhizobacteria (PSR) from acidic soil, Kentrong Ultisol (KT-1, KT-2, and KT-3), and their capacity to enhance soluble phosphorus and maize plant growth. The experiment employed a randomized complete block factorial design with three replications. The first factor involved PSR isolates at eight levels, comprised individual isolates and their consortium combinations, while the second factor encompassed the acidity of the culture medium with three levels (pH 4.5, 5.5, and 6.5). Results demonstrated that isolates KT-1, KT-2, and KT-3 were compatible each other, and have the ability to form biofilm on plant roots. PSR consortium exhibited synergistic effects in improving root dry weight, PSR population, and soluble P, and there was an interaction between media acidity and bacterial isolates. The interaction of the KT-2 + KT-3 treatment at pH 4.5 significantly influenced and increased soluble P (895%) and PSR population (1693%), while the KT-3 treatment significantly increased root dry weight (98%). The interaction of the KT-2 + KT-3 treatment at pH 4.5 showed no significant difference, but had the potential to increase root length (35%), shoot dry weight (46%), and photosynthate accumulation (52%). The combination of using this inoculant has great potential as a biofertilizer in increasing acid soil fertility and maize growth.