CYANOBACTERIAL BIOFERTILIZER IMPROVED GROWTH OF WHEAT

The effect of commercial inoculant of cyanobacteria on wheat cv. Sakha 69 grown in pot experiments using sterilized or non-sterilized clay a nd/or sand soils was examined. Treatments were control (water), live c yanobacteria, killed cyanobacteria, live cyanobacteria plus K, P and S , killed cyanobacteria plus K, P and S and K, P and S only. Live inocu lant and live inoculant plus K, P and S significantly increased dry we ight, total nitrogen, and pigment contents of wheat plants over contro l and other treatments. The increase in growth parameters could be att ributed to the substantial increases of N-2-fixation due to nitrogenas e activity of the cyanobacteria. The promotive effect of cyanobacteria l inoculant, especially on growth, hold promise for use of such inocul ants to enhance the nitrogen status of irrigated plantation crops.