Possibilities of Stabilizing Soil Biological Activity by Treating Seeds With a Biological Preparation Based on Phosphate Mobilizing Bacteria in the Conditions of the Aral Sea Region of Kazakhstan

Abstract

This study examined the effect of Phosphate-Mobilizing Bacteria (PMB) as a pre-sowing treatment for forage crop seeds. The objective was to assess the potential of these bacterial biopreparations to improve both crop productivity and soil fertility. Research methods included agrochemical, microbiological, and conventional field analyses. The findings revealed that pre-sowing seed treatment with PMB increased crop yields by 7.4% to 10.9%. The study concluded that using biological preparations containing local, indigenous PMB strains is particularly effective. These preparations offer a cost-efficient alternative to commercial phosphorus fertilizers, as PMB uniquely convert insoluble soil phosphorus into plant-available forms. This allows farmers to reduce reliance on mineral fertilizers while achieving additional yield gains. These results underscore the importance of bacterial fertilizers for improving plant phosphorus nutrition. Furthermore, they highlight the effectiveness of applying such biopreparations within rice-based cropping systems in the Aral Sea region of Kazakhstan.