Isolation, identification and characterization of rhizobium species from soil of cicer arietinum field of faridpur in bangladesh

Nutrient deficiency in the soil poses a big challenge to food production globally. The use of artificial nitrogen fertilizer to aid crop yield is a common farming practice, despite its undesirable effects and hazard to the environment and human population. This research work aimed at isolation, identification & characterization of Rhizobium species from chickpea rhizospheric soil samples collected of the southern region of faridpur district in Bangladesh. Isolation of Rhizobium species was culture on Yeast Extract Mannitol Agar (YEMA) medium incubated 3 days at 320C. A total of 10 Rhizobium species isolates were isolated from rhizospheric soil samples. They are also found to be gram-negative, rod-shaped morphology, fast grower, indole producers and positive for catalase test. All isolates were found with bare absorption of Congo red dye & no growth on YEMA with 2% NaCl. Out of 10 only 3 isolates (FSRS-3, FSRS-7, and FSRS-9) were identified as Rhizobium species on the basis of the authentication test (nodulation check with (Cicer arietinum). These three rhizobial isolates may be useful to increase the symbiotic biological nitrogen fixation in legume plant chickpea (Cicer arietinum) and can be used as potential biofertilizer owing to their plant growth-promoting characters.