ISOLATION OF POTASSIUM SOLUBILIZING ACTINOMYCETES FROM CERAMIC INDUSTRY SOILS

Abstract

Soil fertility and plant nutrition require an adequate management of essential macronutrients such as potassium (K) is mandatory for plant development. Potassium replenishment, particularly in smallholder agriculture, remains a challenge as it is mainly fertilizer dependent. While the user of soluble mineral potassium fertilizers is the obvious best means to combat potassium deficiency in soil, they were limited by high cost of fertilizers and availability at farmer's level. This research is to isolate and select potassium solubilizing soil Actinomycetes from ceramic industry soils. 22 Actinomycetes isolates were inoculated on Aleksandrov agar supplemented with 0.5% potassium aluminium silicate, isolates which gave the high ratio of clear zone were selected. Out of 22 Actinomycetes Isolates two (KSA 09 and KSA 16) were selected which gave highest solubilization in liquid medium by solubilizing insoluble potassium source i.e. feldspar. This two strain selected for further studies for future prospectus.