Effect of Bacillus megaterium var. phosphaticum Bacteria and L-Alpha Proline Amino Acid on Iron Content in Soil and Triticum aestivum L. Plants in Sustainable Agriculture System
Research was conducted in Poland in 2017–2019 at Siedlce University of Natural Sciences and Humanities in Siedlce. It aimed at determining the effect of the bacteria Bacillus megaterium var. phosphaticum, the amino acid L-alpha proline, and the mineral nitrogen fertiliser regime on iron content in soil during the period of rapid growth of spring wheat plants, as well as in spring wheat grain and straw. The following two factors were examined: (I) biological products: untreated control, Bacillus megaterium var. phosphaticum, L-alpha proline, Bacillus megaterium var. phosphaticum + L-alpha proline; (II) mineral nitrogen fertiliser regime: nonfertilised control, 60 kg Nּha−1, 90 kg Nּha−1, 90 kg Nּha−1 + foliar fertilisation. The study demonstrated that, during the period of rapid spring wheat plant growth, Fe content was the highest in the soil following an application of Bacillus megaterium var. phosphaticum + L-alpha proline + mineral nitrogen fertiliser applied at the rate of 90 kg Nּha−1. This combination resulted in the highest concentration and uptake of iron by spring wheat grain, whereas for straw, the same result was also achieved following mineral nitrogen fertiliser at a rate of 90 kg Nּha−1 + foliar fertilisation.