Buffering reduces phosphate solubilizing ability of selected strains of bacteria.

Phosphate solubilizing bacteria (PSB) possessing the ability to solubilize insoluble inorganic phosphates were isolated from rhizosphere soil. Eighty-one potential PSBs thus obtained were quantitatively screened for phosphate solubilization. Of these, four bacteria found to be efficient phosphate solubilizers, were selected for further evaluation and found that they solubilize tricalcium phosphate in buffered as well as non-buffered media. The efficiency of phosphate solubilization was decreased in buffered media compared to non-buffered media. The buffering capacity of the medium reduced the effectiveness of PSBs in releasing P from tricalcium phosphates.