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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Pullman, Washington » Northwest Sustainable Agroecosystems Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #153207
Title: EFFECTS OF BACTERIA FROM THE GENUS PSEUDOMONAS ON THE GROWTH AND YIELD OF ALFALFA AND WINTER WHEAT

Author
item PASZKOWSKI, WOJCIECH - PULAWY, POLAND
item KSIEZNIAK, ANDRZEJ - PULAWY, POLAND
item WROBLEWSKA, BARBARA - PULAWY, POLAND
item Kennedy, Ann

Submitted to: Pamietnik Pulawski
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 9/20/2001
Publication Date: 12/20/2001
Citation: Paszkowski, W.L., Ksiezniak, A., Wroblewska, B., Kennedy, A.C., Effects of bacteria from the genus Pseudomonas on the growth and yield of alfalfa and winter wheat. Pamietnik Pulawski. 2001. v. 126. p. 13-23.

Interpretive Summary: The threat of wind or water erosion exists for many of the soils of Poland and the United States. Intensive farming systems and degradative practices often disrupt many of the soil processes responsible for the restoration of the fertility of erodible of soils. Many microbial processes can affect soil characteristics that may contribute to soil stability, but our understanding of these processes is not complete. The effect of select bacteria on microbial and physio-chemical properties of erodible soils was investigated in the field. We tested the effects of Pseudomonas on the yield and nutrient composition of alfalfa and winter wheat. Soil samples for microbiological and physicochemical analyses were taken from the field in April and October of each year. Changes in biological, physical and chemical indicators of soil quality occurring over time were measured to evaluate effects of inoculation on soil quality attributes. Adding pseudomonas bacteria to alfalfa and winter wheat seed did not affect their yields nor did it alter soil characteristics as compared to the control over a three-year period. The development of new methods to protect soils from loss due to erosion is a high priority both in the United States and in Poland. Management practices that include biological processes can be used as complementary approaches to conventional agricultural. Before scientists, land managers and growers can adopt these biologically based practices to protect erodible soils an understanding of these microbial processes is needed.

Technical Abstract: We investigated the effect of the addition of select bacteria strains on soil quality properties of highly erodible soils. Over a three-year period, we tested the effects of non-fluorescent Pseudomonas on the yield and nutrient composition of alfalfa and winter wheat. Soil samples for microbiological and physicochemical analyses were taken from 10 cm depths in April and October of each year. Changes in microbial, physical and chemical indicators occurring over time were measured to evaluate effects of inoculation on soil quality attributes. Inoculation of seed with Pseudomonas sp. strain did not affect the yields of alfalfa and winter wheat or soil characteristics as compared to the control. The search for new methods of protection for erodible soils is a high priority both in the United States and in Poland. Biologically based methods are complementary approaches to conventional agricultural and a greater understanding of their impact can be used to develop a sustainable technology to protect erodible soils.