ISOLATION, CHARACTERIZATION & DEVELOPMENT OF LIQUID FORMULATIONS OF POTASSIUM SOLUBILIZING FUNGI.

90% of Potassium in the soil exists in the form of insoluble rocks and silicate minerals and the concentrations of soluble Potassium in the soil is very low but it is one of the major essential macronutrient required for the growth and development of plant. Few microorganisms have ability to dissolve Potassium from insoluble K-bearing minerals. The aim of the present investigation was to isolate, characterize and develop potential Potassium solubilizing fungi from Sugarcane rhizosphere from different sites in & around Nagpur region (Maharashtra). The isolates were screened on Aleksandrov medium containing mica powder on the basis of zone of solublisation. Nine isolates showed zone of Potassium solublisation. Quantitative estimation of Potassium solubilization by these isolates was found in the range of 34.2 µg/mL to 51.2 µg/mL. Morphological and molecular characterization of KSF 05 indicated it to be Aspergillus niger .Furthr Liquid formulations were made and survival of KSB 05 was seen uptil 180 days of incubation, advocating its use as potash biofertilizer.