<div style="text-align:justify">Background: The present investigation was accepted to study&nbsp; the impact of liquid microbial inoculants on the quality parameters of forage cowpea (Vigna unguiculata). There upon, the field experiment was conducted during kharif 2018 at Punjab Agricultural University, Regional Research Station, Bathinda and at Department of Plant Breeding and Genetics, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, Punjab respectively. 
 
Methods: The experiment was laid out in randomized complete block design with a total of eleven treatment combinations of liquid microbial inoculants (Burkholderia seminalis, Burkholderia sp. and Bradyrhizobium sp.) with 75% and 100% RDF and replicated thrice. The qualitative properties including crude protein (CP), neutral detergent fibre (NDF), acid detergent fibre (ADF), in-vitro dry matter digestibility (IVDMD), total soluble sugars and ash content were determined on the forage samples. 
 
Result: The results indicated that the treatment T10 (75% RDF + Burkholderia sp. + Burkholderia seminalis) has reduced ADF% and NDF% at both the locations. Forage with high ADF and NDF% content tends to have low digestibility, low ADF and NDF% is desirable. In addition, treatment T10 showed significantly (p&lt;0.05) improved IVDMD (79.98%) and total sugars (15.82 mg/g) at Ludhiana and at Bathinda, T10 treatment significantly escalated crude protein (19.93%), total ash content (11.55%), total chlorophyll content (2.07 mg/g) and total sugars (15.80 mg/g).Further correlation studies showed highly significant positive correlation among ADF% and NDF% and there negative correlation with all other quality components at both the locations. Consequently, liquid microbial inoculants can play pertinent role in ameliorating fibre quality and interrelation between the various quality parameters proposed that forage with low ADF% and NDF% can be selected for simultaneous amelioration in different attributes of quality.</div>

Improvement in the Quality Attributes of Forage Cowpea by Use of Liquid Microbial Inoculants

Background: In the present investigation bioprocess for the formulation of liquid microbial inoculants with escalated shelf stability for forage cowpea has been standardized. The forage cowpea can make a relevant contribution towards livestock fodder and supply nitrogen to the soil.&nbsp; 
 
Methods: In the present study viability of Burkholderia seminalis, Burkholderia sp. and Bradyrhizobium sp. was evaluated for one month in a basal medium amended with different concentration of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) (0.5%, 1%, 2% and 3%), trehalose (5 mM, 10 mM, 15 mM and 20 mM), polyethylene glycol (PEG) (0.5%, 1%, 2% and 3%) and glycerol (1%, 3%, 5% and 7%).&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 
Result: At 30th day, maximum growth and survival was observed in the basal medium amended with 5 mM trehalose for all the three test cultures. Further, Liquid microbial inoculants of Burkholderia seminalis, Burkholderia sp. and Bradyrhizobium sp. were prepared using trehalose (5 mM) in basal medium and viability retention was studied up to 180 days of storage and compared to charcoal carrier based formulations at room temperature. Furthermore, Scanning electron microscopy provided insight of root colonization of forage cowpea by liquid microbial inoculants under gnotobiotic conditions, maximum root surface colonization was observed by liquid microbial inoculants of Burkholderia seminalis followed by Burkholderia sp. and Bradyrhizobium sp. Therefore, the optimized bioprocess can be used for the formulation of liquid microbial inoculants with enhanced shelf stability and could play a pertinent role in integrated nutrient management of forage cowpea for enhanced productivity and quality.

​Optimized Bioprocess for the Formulation of Liquid Microbial Inoculants for Forage Cowpea and Insight of Plant-microbe Interaction by SEM

<div>Inadequate and nutritionally unbalanced supply of forage results in low productivity of livestock. There is an urgent need of burgeoning forage supply by amalgamating organic and inorganic components in integrated manner.Thereupon, the present investigation was carried out to evaluate the potential of liquid microbial inoculants on growth and yield of forage cowpea.The field experiments were conducted during kharif season (2018) at Punjab Agricultural University, Regional Research Station, Bathinda and Department of Plant Breeding and Genetics, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, Punjab respectively. The experiment was laid out in randomized complete block design with a total of eleven treatment combinations of liquid microbial inoculants (Burkholderia seminalis, Burkholderia sp. and Bradyrhizobium sp.) with 75% and 100% RDF and replicated thrice. Results indicated that the treatment T10 (75% RDF + Burkholderia sp. + Burkholderia seminalis) significantly (p&lt;0.05) enhanced vine length (210.47 and 205.33 cm), leaf length (11.77 and 11.53), leaf breadth (8.97 and 9.14 cm) and dry matter yield (40.13 and 38.18 q/ha) at Ludhiana and Bathinda respectively. Moreover, the percentage increase in green fodder yield (q/ha) with T10 treatment over T1 (control) was 13.21% at Ludhiana and 12.50% at Bathinda. Accordingly, it can be concluded that liquid microbial inoculants could play a predominant role in integrated nutrient management of forage cowpea for enhanced productivity.</div>

<div>Appraisal of Seed Priming with Liquid Microbial Inoculants on Growth and Yield Attributes of Forage Cowpea</div>

Background: Rice is a staple crop grown globally, often requiring intensive nitrogen fertilization to achieve optimal yields. Excessive nitrogen use, however, can lead to environmental degradation and reduced soil health. Microbial inoculants, such as azospirillum, streptomyces and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), have shown potential in enhancing nutrient uptake and promoting sustainable agriculture. 
 
Methods: &nbsp;This study evaluated the impact of three nitrogen application levels (M1: 0 kg ha-1, M2: 40 kg ha-1, M3: 60 kg ha-1&nbsp;as the main plot and four microbial inoculation treatments (S1: Control, S2: Azospirillum (618 g ha-1) + Streptomyces (618 g ha-1), S3: Consortium (1235 g ha-1) and S4: AMF (1235 g ha-1) as the sub plot. A split-plot design (SPD) with three replications was employed to analyze their effects on soil and plant parameters in rice. 
 
Result: The study revealed that the nitrogen levels and microbial inoculants significantly influenced soil and plant parameters in rice. The highest microbial biomass carbon (270.48 mg kg-1), dehydrogenase activity (20.32 mg TPF g-1&nbsp;h-1) and soil respiration (199.63 mg CO&sbquo;&nbsp; kg-1 day-1) were observed with the consortium inoculant at 40 kg N ha-1. AMF recorded maximum AMF colonization (56.20%) and enhanced microbial diversity (3.51 Shannon Index). Nitrogen application at 40 kg ha-1&nbsp;improved root length density (2.46 cm cm-3), root biomass (18.23 g plant-1) and root-to-shoot ratio (0.35). Soil organic carbon peaked at 0.70% with the consortium, while available N, P and K reached 279, 29 and 232 kg ha-1, respectively, under 60 kg N ha-1&nbsp;and consortium. Interactions showed synergistic effects, optimizing soil and crop performance.

Impact of Nitrogen Fertilization and Microbial Inoculants on Soil Microbial Biomass, Enzyme Activities and Carbon Respiration in DSR-rice Cultivation

<div>Indian livestock sector is one of the largest in the world and fodder is vital component of profitable animal production. Legumes are one of the predominant crops of mixed crop-livestock systems providing highly nutritious fodder as well as contributing soil fertility. Nevertheless, the fodder production and quality in the country is not adequate to meet out the prerequisite of growing livestock population. Optimum nutrition is thus required for getting the maximum forage yield and quality. Nutrient Management is propounded as a promising strategy for addressing such challenges. Microbial inoculants being an important component of integrated nutrient management are eco-friendly and economical sources of nutrient. The benefit of combining organic and inorganic sources of nutrients in integrated nutrient management has proved superior to the use of each component individually. Thus, the present review will feature the need of integrated nutrient management, plant growth promoting rhizobacteria as microbial inoculants, role of microbial inoculants in integrated nutrient management of various leguminous crops and emerging examples of integrated nutrient management in cowpea. The realization attained from literature assessed herein will further help to understand the role of microbial inoculants in integrated nutrient management. &nbsp;</div>

<div>Integrated nutrient management in cowpea with the application of microbial inoculants</div>

<div>A field experiment was carried out during summer season in 2018 at New Delhi to study the effect of crop establishment practices and microbial inoculation on nodulation of summer green gram [Vigna radiata (L.) Wilczek] and soil quality parameters. The experiment was laid out in split plot design and treatments were replicated thrice. The experiment included nine treatment combinations including three crop establishment practices viz., conventional tillage, zero tillage and zero tillage with chick pea residue @ 2.5 t/ha in main plots and three microbial inoculation treatment viz., control (no inoculation), dual inoculation of Rhizobium + PSB and combined inoculation of Rhizobium+ Phosphate Solubilizing Bacteria (PSB) + Arbuscular Mycorrhizal (AM) Fungi in sub-plots. Results showed that zero tillage with residue produced significantly higher no. of root nodules/plant and root nodule weight/ plant at 25, 35 and 45 DAS. The same treatment showed significantly superior soil chemical parameters viz., available N, P and K and soil microbial parameters like dehydrogenase activity, alkaline phosphatase activity and microbial biomass carbon (MBC) over other two treatments. Seed inoculation with Rhizobium+ PSB + AM Fungi was significantly superior to other two treatments with regard to no. of root nodules/ plant and root nodule weight/ plant at 25, 35 and 45 DAS, soil chemical and microbial parameters.</div>

<div>Influence of Crop Establishment Practices and Microbial Inoculants on Nodulation of Summer Green Gram (Vigna radiata) and Soil Quality Parameters</div>

<div>Background: Effective in-situ decomposition of rice straw is urgent need for enhancing soil health, supporting nutrient cycling and mitigating the widespread practice of residue burning. This study aim to screen and characterizes potential lignocellulolytic producing microbial isolates and evaluate their efficiency in accelerating rice straw decomposition under pot condition and their subsequent impact on soil biochemical properties and microbial activity under field condition. 
 
Methods: A wide range of bacterial and fungal isolates were screened for lignocellulolytic enzyme production. Eighteen promising crop residue decomposers (CRDs) were applied on rice straw with three replications under complete randomized design (CRD). Their effects on key enzymes (&beta;-glucosidase, protease, xylanase and chitinase), microbial populations, biomass carbon and nitrogen, basal respiration and overall soil properties were evaluated under controlled conditions. 
 
Result: The inoculation CRDs on rice straw recorded significantly greater microbial counts, microbial biomass C and N, basal soil respiration, soil enzymes and soil properties over the control. Microbial counts (bacterial, actinomycetes and fungal), microbial biomass C, N and basal respiration were recorded highest in the T4-CRDB48, closely followed by T12-CRDB24, T5-CRDB52, T17-CRDF32 and T15-CRDF8. CRD inoculation also enhanced enzymatic activities (&beta;-glucosidase: 7.77-32.0 &mu;g PNP/ g soil/h, xylanase: 32.3-132.8 &mu;g GE/g soil/h), microbial counts and soil quality parameters significantly over the control. Inoculation of T15-CRDB48 recorded the highest SOC (0.54%), followed by T5-CRDB52 (0.52%) and T17-CRDF32 (0.50%) over control (0.38%) after decomposition of rice straw, respectively. The CRDB24, CRDB48 and CRDB52 bacteria isolates were identified by using 16S rRNA gene sequencing as Bacillus haynesii, Bacillus altitudinis and Bacillus stratosphericus, while CRDF8 and CRDF32 fungal isolates were identified by ITS region sequencing as Fusarium oxysporum and Aspergillus fumigates, respectively. The selected microbial inoculants effectively accelerated rice straw decomposition and improved soil biological and chemical properties. These findings exhibited their potential that can be used in sustainable residue management strategies liable to enhance soil health and reduce the environmental impact of straw burning.</div>

Microbial Inoculation Enhances Rice Straw Decomposition and Improves Soil Health

<div style="text-align: justify;">Background: Various microorganisms that can have a positive or negative effect on plant development are present in the rhizospheric soil of alfalfa. The research aimed to investigate the impact of two nitrogen-fixing bacteria and two species of the phytopathogen fungus Colletotrichum on the abundance of aminoheterotrophs, nitrifying and denitrifying bacteria in the rhizosphere of three cultivars of alfalfa. Methods: The experiment was carried in vegetation pots as three factorial, where the first factor was alfalfa cultivar (Affinity+Z, K-28 and Perry), the second was the isolate of phytopathogen fungus Colletotrichum: C. trifolii (isolate Coll 4) and C. destructivum (two isolates: Coll-11 and Coll 657); and the third was the variant of bacterial inoculation (Azotobacter chroococcum and Sinorhizobium meliloti). The number of microorganisms was determined by introducing a diluted soil suspension into proper media and counted per one gram of absolutely dry soil. Result: According to the Fisher test applied inoculation microbial inoculation with nitrogen-fixing bacteria and phytopathogen fungus had different effects on the abundance of examined microorganisms in rizospheric soil of different alfalfa cultivars.&nbsp;</div>

<div style="text-align: justify;">Response of Microorganisms in Alfalfa Rhizosphere to Microbial Inoculation</div>

<div style="text-align: justify;">Continuous cropping of rice (Oryza sativa L.) and wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) in IGP deplete soil fertility and crop productivity. In order to maintain or enhance the sustainability of this system use of crop residues and biological formulation of microbes will be play an important role in this areas. Field experiment was conducted in rabi seasons of 2013-14 and 2014-15 at New Delhi, India to study the effect of microbial inoculated rice residue and N management on growth, productivity and economics of wheat under rice&ndash;wheat cropping system (RWCS). After rice harvest in both years, wheat variety &ldquo;HD-2967&rdquo; was grown on the same layout with applied treatments. Results of this experiment revealed that composting inoculated (CI) paddy straw mulch were recorded significantly higher effective tiller, spike length, spike weight, 1,000-grain weight(test weight) and yield during both the years. However, 100% RDN + Azotobacter (Liquid) was found maximum with regard to all yield and yield attributes characteristics. On economic comparison application of composting inoculated PSM with 100% RDN + Azotobacter gave maximum gross return and net returns.</div>

<div style="text-align: justify;">Growth, productivity and profitability of Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) under rice&ndash;wheat cropping system as influenced by of in-situ microbial inoculated rice residue and nitrogen management</div>

Background: Actually, the millets are grown organically/no manures are applied even under low fertile soils resulted in poor millet production levels and leading to higher price of millets. Hence, there is need for low cost and eco-friendly technologies for getting higher productivity and sustaining the soil health. 
&nbsp; 
Methods: The field experiment was conducted to investigate the benefits of liquid microbial consortia and their mode of application on small millets (Proso, Little and Barnyard millet, respectively) at Zonal Agricultural Research Station, V. C. Farm, Mandya from kharif, 2020 to kharif 2022. The experimental design followed was randomized complete block design with three replications using the recommended dose of fertilizers (RDF) at various levels (100%, 85% and 70% RDF, respectively) with different mode of application of liquid microbial consortia as seed treatment, soil application and combination of both. 
&nbsp; 
Result: The highest grain and straw yield was realized with treatment receiving 100% RDF+Seed treatment with liquid microbial consortia (5 ml kg-1&nbsp;seed) followed by soil application of liquid microbial consortia (6.25 litres/ha) mixed with 500 kg farmyard manure (FYM) and applied in furrows during sowing as compared to 100% RDF alone. This might be due to the better growth and yield parameters. The nutrient uptake by grain and straw and microbial population and available soil nutrients at harvest and B:C ratio also followed the similar trend as in case of grain and straw yield.

Improvement in the Quality Attributes of Forage Cowpea by Use of Liquid Microbial Inoculants

Optimized Bioprocess for the Formulation of Liquid Microbial Inoculants for Forage Cowpea and Insight of Plant-microbe Interaction by SEM

Appraisal of Seed Priming with Liquid Microbial Inoculants on Growth and Yield Attributes of Forage Cowpea

Impact of Nitrogen Fertilization and Microbial Inoculants on Soil Microbial Biomass, Enzyme Activities and Carbon Respiration in DSR-rice Cultivation

Integrated nutrient management in cowpea with the application of microbial inoculants

Influence of Crop Establishment Practices and Microbial Inoculants on Nodulation of Summer Green Gram (Vigna radiata) and Soil Quality Parameters

Microbial Inoculation Enhances Rice Straw Decomposition and Improves Soil Health

Response of Microorganisms in Alfalfa Rhizosphere to Microbial Inoculation

Growth, productivity and profitability of Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) under rice–wheat cropping system as influenced by of in-situ microbial inoculated rice residue and nitrogen management

Achieving Yield Sustainability in Small Millets Through Liquid Microbial Consortia-An Eco-friendly Approach