INTEGRATION OF BIOFERTILIZER WITH CHEMICAL FERTILIZER TO IMPROVE SALT TOLERANCE IN WHEAT CROP

Abstract

            This study was done to estimate the PGPMs (Rhizobium ciceri CP-93, Azospirillum brasilense, Trichoderma harzianum, Pseudomonas fluorescence, Bacillus megaterium, Lysinibacillus fusiformis) under salinity stress for three levels 4 dS/m, 8 dS/m and 12 dS/m pot experiment were carried out in Plant Protection Directorate/ Ministry of Agriculture / Abu-Ghreeb/ Baghdad. Using wheat cultivar IPA 99 In 2022-2023 season according to Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD). Several combinations of biofertilizers were used alone and with 25% chemical fertilizer, in addition to chemical fertilizer treatment at a concentration of 25% and 100% for comparison. Results of pot experiment showed that best treatment was (Rhizobium ciceri CP-93 + Azospirillum brasilense + Trichoderma harzianum + Pseudomonas fluorescence + Bacillus megaterium + Lysinibacillus fusiformis) with 25% of chemical fertilizer which recorded significant increase in harvest index, grain number per spike and number of spikelet’s/ spike in all level of salinity comparison with other treatment.