Bacteriophages specific for Bacillus megaterium were isolated and were found to
be common in soil of the Experimental Farm of Fac. Agric., Minia Univ., Egypt.
A bacteriophage resistant mutant of B. megaterium was successfully isolated.
The efficie
ncy of the isolated mutant, free and immobilized cells of B. megaterium
in dissolving insoluble phosphate and their susceptibility to phages were studied in
pure liquid cultures (in vitro) and under cultivated soil conditions (in vivo).
Effect of organic and bio fertilizers (Azotobacter and phosphate solubilizing
bacteria) on production of potatoes and some soil properties was studied in
Tartous.
The experiment consisted of 4 treatments (control soil, soil+manure, soil+
bioferti
lizer and soil+manure+biofertilizer) each replicated four time, for 2004
and 2005 seasons.
Total N, available P, available K, and organic matter in soil were
determined.
Significant increases were observed in most of the inoculated and organic
fertilized treatments compared with the control. However, the treatment
(soil+manure+biofertilizer) was the best and showed significant increases in
potato yield compared with other treatments especially in the next season.
However, the second season was better in yield increase in all treatments
than the first seacon.