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Occurrence and genetic diversity of phosphate-solubilizing bacteria in soils of differing chemical characteristics in Kenya

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Abstract

This study focused on the isolation, identification (sequencing of 16S rDNA gene) and determination of the phosphorus (P)-solubilizing efficiency of native populations of phosphate-solubilizing bacteria (PSB) in 13 Kenyan soils with differing chemical characteristics. Air-dried soil samples were serially diluted and plated on NBRIP media and enumerated. Their phosphate-solubilizing efficiency was assessed on Frioni’s agar. Pearson correlation coefficients were determined between PSB populations and soil properties. The PSB populations varied among the sites tested and had a positive and significant correlation (p ≤ 0.05) with organic carbon (r = 0.76), exchangeable calcium (r = 0.93) and exchangeable magnesium (r = 0.92). A total of 150 isolates were identified to the genus and species level. Among the isolates, Bacillus megaterium, Bacillus sp. and Arthrobacter sp. were the most abundant and well-distributed strains. However, only 5% of the total isolates were efficient in terms of phosphate-solubilizing efficiency. The results indicate that although there were many PSB strains in the soils tested, only a few (5%) were effective in terms of their phosphate-solubilizing ability. It is therefore unlikely that native PSB contribute significantly to solubilizing phosphate in the soils tested, which would ultimately benefit plant growth. Therefore, inoculation with effective strains with a high P solubilization potential is necessary.

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Acknowledgments

The authors are grateful to the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation for their financial support of this study through the commercial products project “COMPRO” coordinated by the Tropical Soil Biology and Fertility Institute of CIAT (TSBF–CIAT). We are also indebted to TSBF–CIAT for providing the laboratory facilities and chemicals for studies and to Leticia A. Fernández for provision of the reference strains.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Tropical Soil Biology and Fertility Institute of CIAT (CIAT–TSBF), c/o World Agroforestry Centre, P.O. Box 30677-00100, Nairobi, Kenya

    Keziah W. Ndung’u-Magiroi, Laetitia Herrmann, Pieter Pypers & Didier Lesueur

  2. Kenya Agricultural Research Institute (KARI–Kitale), P.O. Box 450-30200, Kitale, Kenya

    Keziah W. Ndung’u-Magiroi

  3. Department of Soil Science, Chepkoilel University College of Moi University, P.O. Box 1125-30100, Eldoret, Kenya

    Keziah W. Ndung’u-Magiroi, John Robert Okalebo & Caleb O. Othieno

  4. Ecologie Fonctionnelle & Biogéochimique des Sols & Agroécosystèmes (SupAgro-CIRAD-INRA-IRD), CIRAD, UMR Eco&Sols, 2 Place Viala, 34060, Montpellier, France

    Didier Lesueur

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  1. Keziah W. Ndung’u-Magiroi
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  2. Laetitia Herrmann
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  3. John Robert Okalebo
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  4. Caleb O. Othieno
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  5. Pieter Pypers
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  6. Didier Lesueur
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Correspondence to Didier Lesueur.

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Ndung’u-Magiroi, K.W., Herrmann, L., Okalebo, J.R. et al. Occurrence and genetic diversity of phosphate-solubilizing bacteria in soils of differing chemical characteristics in Kenya. Ann Microbiol 62, 897–904 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13213-011-0326-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13213-011-0326-2

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