Evaluation of wheat (Triticum aestivum) straw and maize (Zea mays) stover as carrier material in Rhizobia inoculant production
- Author
- Chinyandura, Bertha B.
- Title
- Evaluation of wheat (Triticum aestivum) straw and maize (Zea mays) stover as carrier material in Rhizobia inoculant production
- Abstract
- This study focused on the production of legume inoculants using the post-harvest waste product of maize and wheat straw. The aim of this study was to investigate the efficacy of maize stover and wheat straw as potential carrier materials in comparison to bagasse for the production of Rhizobium inoculant biofertiliser by evaluating their physiochemical properties and viable cell count. Carrier materials were characterized for some key physicochemical characteristics before the inoculation with the Rhizobia strain MAR 1495.Wheat straw exhibited poor physicochemical properties whereas bagasse and maize had good qualities. The survival of Rhizobia MAR 1495 strain was determined in carrier materials. The carrier materials were inoculated with the Rhizobia strain MAR 1495 and incubated at temperature ranges of 25-30°C for a week, followed by cold storage at 4°C for 28 Days. The viability of Rhizobia was monitored by sampling of the carrier materials every 7 days for 28 days where pH, viable cell count and spores were checked. A complete randomized design with 3 treatments replicated 12 times for each carrier material was used in this research. The study revealed that pH changes in carrier materials varied significantly over 28 days. While no notable differences were observed in the first two weeks (Days 7 and 14), significant variations (P < 0.05) emerged by Day 21 and persisted through Day 28. Bagasse and maize stover maintained similar, near-neutral pH levels (7.38–7.56), whereas wheat straw exhibited a consistently lower pH (6.69–6.79).The study revealed that while initial viable cell counts showed no significant difference (p=0.586) among carrier materials on Day 7, significant variations emerged from Day 14 onward (p=0.004, p<0.001, p=0.002). Bagasse and maize stover maintained comparable cell counts from Day 14 to Day 28, demonstrating better microbial stability. In contrast, wheat straw exhibited the lowest viable cell counts at Days 21 and 28, with a sharp decline coinciding with a drop in pH. In conclusion, maize stover and bagasse emerged as the most suitable carrier materials due to their favorable physicochemical properties such as neutral pH, high water-holding capacity, and sustained microbial viability and ability to sustain high viable cell counts. Wheat straw, while less effective, may still be viable with further modifications.
- Date
- June 2025
- Publisher
- BUSE
- Keywords
- Rhizobia Inoculant
- Maize Stover
- Wheat Straw
- Supervisor
- Mr. P. Munosiyei
- Item sets
- Department of Biological Sciences
