Abstract:
Phosphorus (P) is one of the essential plant nutrients which is required to
be abundant for plant growth and production. Plant-available P depends highly on the
soil pH level. Under alkaline conditions, it becomes unavailable and forms insoluble
complexes. Phosphorus Solubilizing Microorganisms (PSM) can effectively miner-
alize Eppawala Rock Phosphate (ERP) and convert it into plant-available forms.
This research focused on increasing availability of plant available P from the ERP
mineral. Phosphorus Solubilizing Microorganisms was isolated from the biofertilizer
developed from a pine forest soil culture and identified using Pikovskaya Agar under
serial dilutions in the pour plate method. Isolated PSM taxonomy was determined
using 16S rDNA sequencing. Quantification of P availability by solubilizing ERP
minerals was determined using the phosphomolybdate method. From the P solubiliz-
ing bacteria identified in pine forest soil culture, Bacillus sp. and Acetobacter sp.
showed the most significant (P < 0.05) performance in solubilizing ERP. The en-
hancement of available P in soil by incorporating microorganisms has a direct impact
on increasing crop establishment, plant growth, and yield production.
