Biofertilizer Production using Phosphate-solubilizing Pseudomonas specie Isolated from Rhizosphere Soil: Towards Indigenous Biofertilizer for Enhanced Crop Productivity in Katsina, Nigeria

The utilization of biofertilizers holds promise as a sustainable approach to enhance soil fertility and crop productivity while reducing reliance on chemical fertilizers. Beyond nitrogen, phosphorus is integral to various aspects of plant metabolism, including cell division, growth, development, sugar breakdown, and nuclear transport. The present study focused on isolating Pseudomonas spp. as phosphate-solubilizing bacteria from the rhizosphere soil to produce biofertilizer. Ten rhizosphere soil samples were collected from agricultural fields in Wagini ward, Batsari Local Government area, Katsina state. The isolation and identification of Pseudomonas species from the soil samples were conducted using standard microbiological techniques, followed by screening for plant growth-promoting traits (phosphate solubilization). Subsequently, selected Pseudomonas species exhibiting robust phosphate solubilization were assessed for their efficacy in biofertilizer production, after which the produced biofertilizer was tested on maize, beans, and millet cultivation. The findings highlighted the potential of indigenous Pseudomonas species from agricultural soil as effective biofertilizer agents. The formulated biofertilizers demonstrated remarkable positive effects on the tested crops’ growth compared to those not treated with the Pseudomonas-based biofertilizer after seven days of cultivation under controlled conditions. This study underscores the importance of tacking native microbial resources to develop ecofriendly and cost-effective biofertilizers tailored to local agroecosystems, thereby contributing to Nigeria's sustainable agricultural intensification and food security.