Biofertilization of Barley with non-Symbiotic nitrogen-fixing bacteria and phosphate-solubilizing bacteria under different levels of salinity.

Inoculating barley plant (Hordeum vulgare L.) with non-symbiotic nitrogen-fixing bacteria Azotobacter, Azospirillum and phosphate-solubilizing bacteria that were identified in previous study under different salinity levels was mainly attitude plant growth and enhanced salinity tolerance, especially when a combination of bacterial strains was applied.
Date showed that inoculation with these bacteria improved plant growth parameters, such as shoot, root biomass and nutrient absorption as well as total count of bacteria in barley rhizosphere, especially at moderate salinity levels. Also, inoculation was significantly enhanced plant hormone production, particularly in the mixed treatments. In addition , Organic acids such as citric acid, malic acid, and ascorbic acid were significantly influenced by salinity and bacterial inoculation. The activities of catalase (CAT), peroxidase (POX) enzymes, and proline content were significantly increased under salinity stress compared to the control treatment. The bacteria appeared to mitigate the negative impacts of salt stress by increasing the availability of nitrogen , phosphorus and essential nutrients for plant development.
Overall, the findings suggest that using non-symbiotic nitrogen-fixing and phosphate-solubilizing bacteria could be an effective, eco-friendly approach to improve barley plants cultivation in saline environments, potentially reducing dependence on chemical fertilizers and supporting sustainable farming practices.