Molecular Characterization and Identification of Potassium Solubilizing Enterobacter hormaechei (KSB-8) Isolated from Ceramic Industry

Abstract

Potassium (K) accounts for around 2.5% of the lithosphere. K is present as feldspar (orthoclase and microcline) and mica (biotite and muscovite) among all soil minerals. In agriculture, replenishing potassium remains challenging because of its dependence on fertilizer. Biofertilizers become alternatives to chemical fertilizers to enhance plant nutrition and productivity as they improve soil fertility in an environmental friendly and cost-effective manner. The present study, a novel exploration, aims to identify and select microorganisms from the soils used in the ceramic industry that may solubilize potassium. The potential K solubilizers were determined by morphological, biochemical and molecular characterization through 16S rRNA sequence analysis of the Enterobacter hormaechei (KSB -8).