Integrated Effect of Bacillus pumilus and Mineral Fertilizers on Growth Parameters on Potato (Solanum tuberosum L. cv. Citlali)

Abstract Background and aims Plant Growth Promoting Rhizobacteria can make available phosphorus (P) for crops of economic and food importance such as Solanum tuberosum L. (potato), allowing the application of fertilizers to be reduced. The aim was evaluate the integral effect of Bacillus pumilus (phosphate solubilizer) alone and with 30 kg P/ha, as well as a conventional fertilization of 60 kg P/ha on growth, production and sprouting of potato under greenhouse conditions. Methods Five treatments were assayed: NPK 100% (T1), NK 100% (T2), B. pumilus, BP (T3), BP + NPK 50% (T4), BP + NK 50% (T5). To measure the efect of mixture bacteria and fertilizer on crop development, we recorded plant height, fresh and dry weights, number of internodes, SPAD values, fresh weight of tubers, total number of tubers, number of tubers with diameters greater than or equal to 15 mm, length and width of sprouts. Results Potato growth parameters indicated a similarity in: plant height (21.65 cm, 20.95 cm), number of internodes (12.42, 13.11), fresh (9.97 g, 5.53 g) and dry weights (1.87 g, 1.08 g) of the treatments T1 and T4, respectively. In mini-tuber production and sprouting, tuber fresh weight (g), number of total tubers, tuber diameter ≥ 15 mm, and sprout width were statistically significant at T4 respect to treatment with B. pumilus alone. Conclusion Compared to conventional mineral fertilization B. pumilus with 50% mineral fertilizer, have equal effect on plant growth values of potato, production and sprouting of mini tubers.