Ikuli and Akonye Greener Journal of Agricultural Sciences Vol. 9(1), pp. 65-75, 2019 ISSN: 2276-7770 Copyright ©2019, the copyright of this article is retained by the author(s) DOI Link: http://doi.org/10.15580/GJAS.2019.1.121118172 http://gjournals.org/GJAS Microbial Soil Enhancer: The Panacea to Land as a Limiting Resource in Agricultural Productivity *1Ikuli, Josiah M and 1Akonye, Love A 1Department of Plant Science and Biotechnology, University of Port Harcourt, PMB 2353 Choba Port Harcourt ARTICLE INFO ABSTRACT Article No.: 121118172 Type: Research DOI: 10.15580/GJAS.2019.1.121118172 Land is an inevitable resource in agricultural production and its health status determines the position of agriculture in the present and future. The study investigated the ability of microbial soil enhancer to increase yield and soil nutrients, maintain soil health for sustainable and continuity in agriculture. Two (2.5ml/liter) of microbial soil enhancer was applied to the soil before planting and thereafter, 2ml/liter was applied through foliar application after every four weeks till maturity, followed by treatments with different rates of inorganic fertilizer NPK15:15:15 (20g/plant, 15g/plant, and 10g/plant). The study revealed that microbial soil enhancer gave the best-improved yield (52.67 Ton/Ha), SOM and many primary nutrients when used with 50% (10g/plant) inorganic fertilizer. Microbial soil enhancer improved and balanced the soil microorganism’s community, making the soil fit for sustainable use and continuity in agriculture. It generated pro-bacteria and fungi needed for plant protection and productivity. The study also revealed that microbial soil enhancer should not be used in a virgin or fertile soil to avoid disaster outbreak. It is also good for bioremediation. It should be encouraged and supplemented with a low rate of inorganic fertilizer to increase yield, sustainability, and continuity in agriculture and also for bioremediation, to reclaim agricultural lands lost to pollution. Submitted: 11/12/2018 Accepted: 15/12/2018 Published: 31/01/2019 *Corresponding Author Ikuli, Josiah M E-mail: ikulijosiah@ yahoo. com Keywords: Microbial soil enhancer, sustainability, agriculture, arable land, continuity Return to Content View [Full Article – PDF] [Full Article – HTML] [Full Article – EPUB] Post-Publication Peer-review Rundown View/get involved, click [Peer-review] REFERENCES Ane, Cecilia Mesa-Arango, Faorasteriero, A., Bernnal-Martinez, L, Cuenca-Estrella, M., Mellado, E. and Zaragoza, O. (2013). The non-mammalian host Galleria Mellonella can be used to study the Virulence of the fungal pathogen Candida tropicalis and the efficacy of antifungal drugs during infection by this pathogenic yeast. Medical Mycology 51(5): 461- 472. https://doi.org/10.3109/13693786.2012.737031. Dijksterhuis, J., Samson, R. A (2006). Activation of stress-resistant aeciospores by novel food preservation techniques. Advances in Environmental Medicine and Biology. 517:247-260. FAO (2017). Food and Agriculture Organization electronic files and website. Geneshan Giriji and Kumar A. Manoj (2007). Pseudomonas fluorescens, a potential bacteria antagonist to control plant disease. Journal of Plant Interactions 1(3): 123 – 134. DOI: 1080/17429140600907043. Grotz, T. (2014). Prebiotics for the soil: Brew your local indigenous microbes. www.motherearth.com. Retrieved 20th April, 2017. Havlin, J. L., Beaton, J. D., Tisdale, S. L. and Nelson, W. L. (2006). Soil Fertility and Fertilizers. Asoke K. Ghosh, Prentice-Hall of India Private Limited, M-97, Connaught Circus New Delhi- 110001. 7th ed: 254-263, 404-411. Hoffland, E, Halilinen, J; Van Pett, J A (1996). Comparison of Systemic resistance induced by avirulent and nonpathogenic Pseudomonas species. Phytopathology 86: 759- 676 Hoorman, J.J (2016). Role of Bacteria. Ohioline htm. Hoorman, J.J., Sa, J. C. M. and Reeder, R. C. (2011). The Biology of Soil Compaction (Revised and updated), Journal of No-till Agriculture 9 (2): 583 – 587. Ikuli, J. M (2017). Agriculture: Constraints and possible solution to food security in Nigeria. Greener Journal of Agricultural Sciences 7(7): 167-174. http://doi.org/10.15580/GJAS2017.7.090917125 Ikuli, J. M and Ogidi, I. A (2017). Effect of Planting Time on Maize (Zea mays) Yield in Bayelsa State. International Journal of Agriculture and Earth Science 3(2): 62 – 68. Ingham, E.R. (2009). Soil Biology Primer, chapter 4: soil funs. Ankeny 1A: Soil and Water Conservation Society. Pg. 22 – 23. Soil. Usda.gov1/concepts/soil biology. Jacquemyn, H., Lenerts, M., Brys, R., Williams, K., Honnay, O and Lievens, B (2013). “Among-population variation in microbial community structure in the flora nectar of the bee- pollinated forest herb Pulmonaria officinal is L” PLOS one 8(3):e. 56917. Doi: 10.1371/Journal pone. 0056917. PMC 3594240 PMMID 2356759 Kucharski, E. S, Cord-Ruwisch, R, Whiffin, V. Al-Thawadi, SMJ (2006). Microbial biocementation. World patent 2006: 066326. Lowenfels, J and Lewis, W. (2006).Teaming with microbes: A Gardner’s Guide to soil food web, chapter 3: Bacteria, Timber Press, Portland Oregon. Mehlich, A. (1984). Mehlich3 Soil test extractant: A modification of Mehlich2 extractant. Commun. Soil Science Plant Analysis 15(12): 1409 – 1416. Menica, C. (2005). District Laboratory Practice. Cambridge University Press, New York. : 74 – 75. O’Sullivan, D.B and O’Gara, F (1992). Traits of fluorescent Pseudomonas spp. Involved in suppression of plant root pathogens. Microbial Rev. 56:662-676. Olsen, S.R., Cole, C.V., Wantanabe, F.S. and Dean, L. A. (1954). Estimation of Available Phosphorus in Soils by Extractants with Sodium Bicarbonate. U.S. Department of Agriculture Circular No. 939. Banderies, A.D., D. H. Barter and K. Anderson. Agricultural Advisor. Sylvia, D.M., Hartel, P.G, Fuhrmann, J.J. and Zuberer, D.A. (2005). Principles and applications of Soil Microbiology (2nd ed.). Edited by David M. Sylva, Pearson Prentice Hall, Upper Saddle River, New Jersey. Umar, M., Kassim, K.A and Chiet, K.T.P (2016). Biological process of soil improvement in civil engineering: Journal of Rock Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering 8(2016) 769- 774 Ohioline htm Wei, G., Kloepper, J W and Tuzun, S (1996).Induced systemic resistance to cucumber diseases and increased plant growth promoting Rhizobacteria under field condition. Phytopathology 86: 221-235 www.bontera.com Retrieved 20th April, 2017 Yigit, F and Dikilitas (2008). Effect of Humic Acid Applications on the Root-Rot Diseases caused by Fusarium spp. On Tomato Plants. Plant Pathology Journal 7(2): 179-182. Cite this Article: Ikuli, JM; Akonye, LA (2019). Microbial Soil Enhancer: The Panacea to Land as a Limiting Resource in Agricultural Productivity. Greener Journal of Agricultural Sciences 9(1): 65-75, http://doi.org/10.15580/GJAS.2019.1.121118172.
