The novel and efficient method for isolating potassium solubilizing bacteria from rhizosphere soil

Potassium (K) is the third major essential macronutrient for plant growth and more than 90% of potassium in the soil exists in the form of insoluble rocks and silicate minerals. 150 potassium solubilizing bacterial (KSB) strains were isolated from rhizosphere soil using Aleksandrov medium containing insoluble mica powder. Ten efficient KSB strains were selected and quantification studies showed that higher K solubilization (50.6 mg L−1) was observed in the strain HMP27 followed by strain WHP47 (46.4 mg L−1) in liquid medium. Potassium solubilization by the bacterial strains is determined by measuring zone of clearance around the bacterial colony. This procedure requires 10–15 days incubation. Therefore, a simple, rapid, and user-friendly method has been developed for screening of potassium solubilizing bacteria using the bromothymol blue dye in modified Aleksandrov medium. Microorganisms possessing potassium solubilization property developed a clear zone around bacterial colony and changed the colour of dye from greenish blue to yellow after two days incubation. High-performance liquid chromatography analysis of the filtrates showed the presence of oxalic, tartaric, citric, and succinic acid, which could be responsible for solubilization of potassium. This method will allow researchers to readily isolate new potassium solubilizing strains adapted to specific environments.