Isolation of silicate solubilising microbes (SSM) from soil and water samples as potential components of bio fertilizers

Silicate solubilizing microbes (SSM) are crop beneficial microbes which facilitate silica uptake via plant roots by way of dissolving silicates and making it available in the form of monomeric silicic acid. Excessive use of synthetic fertilizers may negatively affect overall soil health and the environment. To ensure that crops provide competitive yields while preserving the ecological balance of the soil, it is necessary to develop and use bio-fertilizers. For this, a consortium is required which can solubilise complex form of phosphates, silicates etc. to provide important nutrients to crops while simultaneously maintaining the soil balance. In the present study, silicate producing microorganisms (Bacteria/Fungi) were isolated from different sites including water bodies and different soils. The samples were enriched with different agro-residues prior to isolation. Two different screening methods were used to select solubilising silicate bacteria (SSB) and solubilising silicate fungi (SSF). SSB producing the maximum zone of silicate dissolution were characterized and identified while SSF were selected on the basis of colour change in silica peptone broth. A total of four two bacteria (SSB) and two fungi (SSF) with potential of silicate solubilisation were isolated, screened, characterized and identified.