Research Article

Synergistic Effects of Organo-Mineral Fertilization and Phosphorus-Solubilizing Bacteria on Soil Biological Activity and Eggplant Growth in Calcareous Soil

Volume: 12 Number: 2 August 28, 2026
TR EN

Synergistic Effects of Organo-Mineral Fertilization and Phosphorus-Solubilizing Bacteria on Soil Biological Activity and Eggplant Growth in Calcareous Soil

Abstract

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of a commercial microbial fertilizer containing Bacillus megaterium, Pantoea agglomerans and Pseudomonas fluorescens on soil biological properties and plant growth during eggplant (Solanum melongena L.) cultivation under greenhouse conditions in calcareous soils. While 70% of the phosphorus (P) requirement was supplied via fertigation, the remaining 30% was provided through organo-mineral basal fertilization at four reduction levels (0%, 25%, 50%, 100%) combined with microbial inoculation. Soil samples collected prior to the experiment and at 4 different growth stages were analyzed for physical, chemical, and biological properties, while plant samples collected at the end of the harvest were evaluated for pomological and physiological traits. The results indicated that microbial treatments substantially enhanced soil biological activity. Specifically, the full-dose P + microbial treatment (100+) produced the highest urease, alkaline phosphatase, β-glucosidase activities, and total bacterial count. The 100+ treatment also yielded the most pronounced improvements in soil EC, organic matter, total nitrogen, and available P. Plant parameters, including fruit length, peduncle length, dry biomass, soluble solids content, and chlorophyll concentrations, responded positively to P–microbial combinations. The highest leaf phosphorus concentration was obtained from the 100+ treatment, while the maximum total yield was achieved in both the 100 and 100+ treatments. These findings demonstrate that microbial inoculants create a strong synergy with mineral fertilization by enhancing P bioavailability and nutrient use efficiency. Consequently, it was determined that an integrated microbial-chemical fertilization strategy is an effective method for sustainable eggplant production in calcareous soils.

Keywords

Supporting Institution

Akdeniz University

Project Number

FYL-2023-6466

Thanks

This work was supported by the Scientific Research Projects Coordination Unit of Akdeniz University.

References

  1. Adesemoye, A. O., & Kloepper, J. W. (2009). Plant–microbes interactions in enhanced fertilizer-use efficiency. Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology, 85(1), 1–12. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00253-009-2196-0
  2. Adesemoye, A. O., Torbert, H. A., & Kloepper, J. W. (2009). Plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria allow reduced application rates of chemical fertilizers. Microbial Ecology, 58(4), 921–929. https://doi.org/10.1139/W08-081
  3. Adnan, M., Fahad, S., Zamin, M., Shah, S., Mian, I. A., Danish, S., & Saud, S. (2020). Coupling phosphate-solubilizing bacteria with phosphorus supplements improve maize phosphorus acquisition and growth under lime induced salinity stress. Plants, 9(7), 900. https://doi.org/0.3390/plants9070900
  4. Aminifard, M. H., Aroiee, H., Fatemi, H., Ameri, A., & Karimpour, S. (2010). Responses of eggplant (Solanum melongena L.) to different rates of nitrogen under field conditions. Journal of Central European Agriculture, 11(4), 453-458. https://doi.org/10.5513/jcea01/11.4.863
  5. AOAC. (2005). Official methods of analysis of AOAC International (18th ed.). Association of Official Analytical Chemists.
  6. Azarpour, E., Motamed, M. K., Moraditochaee, M., & Bozorgi, H. R. (2012). Effects of bio, mineral nitrogen fertilizer management, under humic acid foliar spraying on fruit yield and several traits of eggplant (Solanum melongena L.). African Journal of Agricultural Research, 7(7), 1104-1109. https://doi.org/10.5897/AJAR11.1833
  7. Babalola, O. O. (2010). Beneficial bacteria of agricultural importance. Biotechnology Letters, 32(11), 1559-1570. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10529-010-0347-0
  8. Balkaya, A. (2014). Aşılı sebze üretiminde kullanılan anaçlar [Rootstocks employed in the production of grafted vegetables]. TÜRKTOB Türkiye Tohumcular Birliği Dergisi, 3(10), 4-7.

Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Soil Microbiology

Journal Section

Research Article

Publication Date

August 28, 2026

Submission Date

March 10, 2026

Acceptance Date

May 14, 2026

Published in Issue

Year 2026 Volume: 12 Number: 2

APA
Eken, A. C., Tavalı, İ. E., & Maltaş, A. Ş. (2026). Synergistic Effects of Organo-Mineral Fertilization and Phosphorus-Solubilizing Bacteria on Soil Biological Activity and Eggplant Growth in Calcareous Soil. Uluslararası Tarım Ve Yaban Hayatı Bilimleri Dergisi, 12(2), 95-114. https://doi.org/10.24180/ijaws.1906578
AMA
1.Eken AC, Tavalı İE, Maltaş AŞ. Synergistic Effects of Organo-Mineral Fertilization and Phosphorus-Solubilizing Bacteria on Soil Biological Activity and Eggplant Growth in Calcareous Soil. Uluslararası Tarım ve Yaban Hayatı Bilimleri Dergisi. 2026;12(2):95-114. doi:10.24180/ijaws.1906578
Chicago
Eken, Ahmet Cemil, İsmail Emrah Tavalı, and Ahmet Şafak Maltaş. 2026. “Synergistic Effects of Organo-Mineral Fertilization and Phosphorus-Solubilizing Bacteria on Soil Biological Activity and Eggplant Growth in Calcareous Soil”. Uluslararası Tarım Ve Yaban Hayatı Bilimleri Dergisi 12 (2): 95-114. https://doi.org/10.24180/ijaws.1906578.
EndNote
Eken AC, Tavalı İE, Maltaş AŞ (August 1, 2026) Synergistic Effects of Organo-Mineral Fertilization and Phosphorus-Solubilizing Bacteria on Soil Biological Activity and Eggplant Growth in Calcareous Soil. Uluslararası Tarım ve Yaban Hayatı Bilimleri Dergisi 12 2 95–114.
IEEE
[1]A. C. Eken, İ. E. Tavalı, and A. Ş. Maltaş, “Synergistic Effects of Organo-Mineral Fertilization and Phosphorus-Solubilizing Bacteria on Soil Biological Activity and Eggplant Growth in Calcareous Soil”, Uluslararası Tarım ve Yaban Hayatı Bilimleri Dergisi, vol. 12, no. 2, pp. 95–114, Aug. 2026, doi: 10.24180/ijaws.1906578.
ISNAD
Eken, Ahmet Cemil - Tavalı, İsmail Emrah - Maltaş, Ahmet Şafak. “Synergistic Effects of Organo-Mineral Fertilization and Phosphorus-Solubilizing Bacteria on Soil Biological Activity and Eggplant Growth in Calcareous Soil”. Uluslararası Tarım ve Yaban Hayatı Bilimleri Dergisi 12/2 (August 1, 2026): 95-114. https://doi.org/10.24180/ijaws.1906578.
JAMA
1.Eken AC, Tavalı İE, Maltaş AŞ. Synergistic Effects of Organo-Mineral Fertilization and Phosphorus-Solubilizing Bacteria on Soil Biological Activity and Eggplant Growth in Calcareous Soil. Uluslararası Tarım ve Yaban Hayatı Bilimleri Dergisi. 2026;12:95–114.
MLA
Eken, Ahmet Cemil, et al. “Synergistic Effects of Organo-Mineral Fertilization and Phosphorus-Solubilizing Bacteria on Soil Biological Activity and Eggplant Growth in Calcareous Soil”. Uluslararası Tarım Ve Yaban Hayatı Bilimleri Dergisi, vol. 12, no. 2, Aug. 2026, pp. 95-114, doi:10.24180/ijaws.1906578.
Vancouver
1.Ahmet Cemil Eken, İsmail Emrah Tavalı, Ahmet Şafak Maltaş. Synergistic Effects of Organo-Mineral Fertilization and Phosphorus-Solubilizing Bacteria on Soil Biological Activity and Eggplant Growth in Calcareous Soil. Uluslararası Tarım ve Yaban Hayatı Bilimleri Dergisi. 2026 Aug. 1;12(2):95-114. doi:10.24180/ijaws.1906578

Journal of Agriculture and Wildlife Science   is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License (CC BY NC).