JWSS - Journal of Water and Soil Science

Zinc is essential micronutrients for plants. This element improves plant growth and yield and plays a role in the metabolism of carbohydrates. Zinc deficiency in soils and Iranian crops is possible due to numerous reasons such as calcareous soils, excessive use of phosphorus fertilizers and unbalanced fertilizer use. The effect of zinc solubilizing bacteria on some wheat properties was considered as a factorial experiment in greenhouse conditions based on a completely randomized design. Treatments consisted of four levels of bacteria comprising B₁ (control), B₂ (Bacillus megaterium), B₃ (Enterobacter cloacae) and B₄ (consortium of both bacterium), and ZnSO₄ fertilizer at three levels including Zn₀ (control), Zn₂₀ (20 Kg/ha) and Zn₄₀ (40 kg/ha). During the experiment, some parameters such as plant height and chlorophyll index were measured. At the end of the cultivation period, soil available zinc, dry weight of root and aerial part, and the zinc concentration of the root, shoot and grain were determined. Grain yield and zinc uptake in the grain were also calculated. The results indicated soil exchangeable zinc content was increased significantly (P<0.05) in all bacterial treatments, as compared to the control treatment. The maximum amount of soil exchangeable zinc, grain yield, zinc concentration and uptake in grain were observed in the treatment containing bacteria consortium with the application of 40 kg/ha of zinc sulfate fertilizer, which was followed by the treatment containing Enterobacter cloacae with the application of 40 kg/ha of the zinc sulfate fertilizer. The maximum amount of all measured properties in the treatment containing Enterobacter cloacae and Bacillus megaterium indicated the possibility of applying those bacteria for zinc enrichment in wheat, crop optimal production, and the sustainable agriculture.