EFFECT OF PLANT GROWTH PROMOTING RHIZOSPHERIC MICROORGANISMS AND HUMIC ACID APPLICATION ON PRODUCTIVITY OF WHEAT CROP

ABSTRACT
In quest of eco-friendly methods to promote plant growth and improve crop productivity is a priority for sustainable agriculture approach. To address this, a field experiment was conducted during 2020/2021 in winter season at Desert Research Center experimental station, Baloza district, North Sinai Governorate to study the effect of Plant Growth Promoting Rhizospheric  microorganisms (PGPR) and humic acid on wheat productivity. Treatments included two separate nitrogen fixing bacteria (Azotobacter chroococcum and Azospirillum brasilense), Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Arbuscular mycorrhizae (AM) and humic acid individually or in combination.
The results showed a significant variations between all wheat treatments on plant height, number of spikes/plant, weight of thousand  grain and grain yield, along with grain contents of N, P, K and protein. The combination of N-fixing bacteria, yeast, and (AM)  and humic acid  significantly increased counts of Azotobacter, Azospirillum, yeast, VAM spores  and the total microbial counts in the wheat rhizosphere. Consequently, growth parameters, grain yield and protein content markedly increased.
Plant Growth Promoting Rhizospheric microorganisms  (PGPR) and Humic acid (HA) were among the most effective methods that improve wheat growth and productivity.