Effect of Biofertilizers on Growth and Biochemical Characteristics of Tall Fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.) under Different Levels of Salinity

The effect of Azotobacter chroococcum and Azospirillum lipoferum on tall fescue was studied by factorial experiment in a randomized complete block design with 4, 6, 8 and 12 dS.m-1 salinity and distilled water as control. Results showed that the highest and the lowest seedling emergence were observed in Azospirillum and control (without any salinity or inoculation) treatments. At tenth week, the highest values of fresh and dry clipping weights were obtained by Azospirillum plus 6 and 8dS.m-1, respectively. The highest number of leaves was observed in Azotobacter treatment without salinity and the highest chlorophyll by Azotobacter plus salinity 12 dS.m-1. At fifteenth week, the highest amount of fresh clipping weight was obtained from 4 and 0 dS/m plus Azospirillum. The highest dry clipping weight was produced by 4dS.m-1 salinity without inoculation and 12dS.m-1 plus Azotobacter. The highest number of leaves was obtained from Zzospirillum without salinity. The highest amount of phosphorus was observed in Azospirillum treatment with 0 dS.m-1 salinity. Control treatment showed the highest potassium amount. Azotobacter plus 8 dS.m-1 had the highest nitrogen amount whereas Azospirillum plus 12dS.m-1 showed the highest sodium amount. The highest proline amount was observed in 12dS.m-1 salinity without inoculation. According to the above results, inoculation of tall fescue seeds with Azotobacter and Azospirillum could reduce the effects of salinity stress on growth and biochemical properties of the plant, and each bacteria affected the improvement of some characteristics under stress conditions

Decomposed chicken feather: A biostimulant to lettuce (Lactuca sativa) growth

It is crucial to produce plant growth biostimulants from waste and renewable resources. A study was carried during 2020 at the Soil and Water Research Institute, Karaj, Iran to evaluate the effect of decomposed chicken feather as a biostimulant on lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) growth. A total of 29 soil samples from 15 Iranian regions were used to isolate and identify the bacteria and 31 strains that were able to produce keratinase and capable of feather degrading were isolated. Then, 8 isolates that were able to degrade the feather during 7 days were selected as the superior strains. Based on the results Bacillus siamensis c11, Bacillus methylotrophicus gh1 and Bacillus methylotrophicus a2 were identified as the new strains that can produce keratinase enzyme. Then, the effect of foliar spraying of the solutions produced from feather degradation by the new strains (c11, gh1, and a2) on the growth of lettuce was investigated. The results showed that the solution produced by methylotrophicus gh1 strain significantly increased the fresh and dry weight of the shoot and root (respectively, 25.9, 36.9, 34.1 and 51.9% increase compared to the control). It is concluded that the microbial solution of these three microbes as a consortium could be quite a new addition on one hand, could also reduce the human allergy as a via- medium of waste disposal