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Effect of potassium solubilizing bacteria (Bacillus cereus) on growth and yield of potato

Abstract Potassium solubilizing bacteria (PSB) are able to dissolve K from K-minerals and enhance plant growth and yield. A field experiment was carried out during 2017/2018–2018/2019 growing seasons in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replicates. This study aims to assess the performance of bio-fertilization (Bacillus cereus) as PSB on the growth of potato (Kara Spp) and availability of N, P, and K. Potato plants were fertilized with K-feldspar and inoculated with PSB. The results showed that the PSB significantly increased the plant height (PH), branches number (BN), and shoot dry weight by about 15%, 27%, and 26%, respectively, compared to the untreated one. Soil available K increased by 42% as a result of PSB inoculation, moreover, K uptake by potato tubers increased by 62% in compassion with untreated plants. Leaf N, P, and K concentrations as well as the uptake were significantly increased in the plants inoculated with PSB compared to the un-inoculated plants. The graded weights of potato were increased by 20%, 26%, and 25%, for large, medium, and small size of tubers, respectively as a result of applying of bio-fertilizer. The bio-fertilization of potato with Bacillus cereus significantly increased the total yield of potato by 21% above the untreated plants. The application of K-feldspar (12% total K2O) at a rate of 240 kg K2O ha−1 to potato inoculated with Bacillus cereus gave a total tuber yield of 40 ton ha−1.