Soil Properties Related to the Occurrence of Rock Phosphate-Solubilizing Bacteria in the Rhizosphere Soil of Faba Bean (Vicia faba L.) in Morocco

Abstract This study focused on revealing the correlations between rock phosphate-solubilizing bacteria (PSB) counts and differing properties of the rhizosphere soil. One hundred and thirty-two samples of rhizosphere soil of faba bean ( Vicia faba L.) were collected and analyzed from 14 agricultural areas in Meknes, Morocco. The results revealed that all the samples were inhabited with indigenous PSB ranging from 3.55 to 0.002 (×10 5 CFU/g soil). The correlations between PSB counts and cation exchange capacity, available phosphorus (P), and pH were insignificant; on the contrary, a highly significant correlation ( p ≤ 0.01) was found between the numbers of PSB and total soil bacteria (TB) ( r = 0.80), total nitrogen (N) ( r = 0.86), and organic matter ( r = 0.90). This research enhances our knowledge on PSB population and their interaction with physical, chemical, and biological properties of the rhizosphere soil of faba bean to provide a new index for better use in organic agricultural practices. View Full-Tex