The effects of plant growth promoting Rhizobacteria (PGPR) on the growth, plant nutrient content and crop yield of groundnut (Arachis Hypogaea L.) cv. Golden were investigated under rainfed conditions in degraded lands within 2011 and 2014. The experiment was planned with a randomized complete block design having three replication. The two PGPR treatments alone or in combination with FYM were tested and compared with gypsum (alone), farm yard manure (FYM) (alone) and control. The data of 4 years showed that the use of PGPR and other amendments significantly increased plant growth, plant nutrient content, crop yield and soil fertility compared with the control. The (Gypsum, PGPR, FYM, and PGPR+FYM) applications increased cumulative grain yield by 3.94, 1.35, 7.08 and 10.34%, respectively.  The straw yield increased by (1.29, 0.40, 2.17 and 4.15%) by the applications of gypsum, PGPR, FYM, and PGPR+FYM respectively compared with the control. In addition, organic matter content of soil with PGPR and other amendments significantly increased from 0.73 to 1.00%. Soil moisture content was enhanced from 23.40 to 28.20%. These amendments reduced soil pH from 8.14 to 7.80 and soil electrical conductivity (ECe) from 1.73 to 1.37 dS m-1. Overall, the results of this study indicated that the PGPR alone or in combination with FYM had the potential to increase growth and yield of groundnut and improve soil health of degraded soils.

 

Key words: Plant growth promoting Rhizobacteria (PGPR), farm yard manure (FYM), gypsum, groundnut, degraded soils.