Journal of Ecology and the Natural Environment Vol. 3(7), pp. 232-240, July 2011
Available online at http://www.academicjournals.org/jene
ISSN 2006- 9847©2011 Academic Journals
Full Length Research Paper 

Effects of humic compounds and phosphatesolubilizing
bacteria on phosphorus availability in an
acid soil 

Sugeng Winarso1,2*, Didik Sulistyanto1 and Eko Handayanto2

1Department of Soil Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Jember University, Jember, Indonesia.
2Department of Soil Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Brawijaya University, Malang, Indonesia.
Accepted 23 May, 2011

This study aims at elucidating the combined effects of humic compounds and phosphate-solubilizing bacteria (Pseudomonas putida) to improve characteristics of ultisol and to increase the yields of soybean conducted in a glasshouse. The humic compounds are extracted from rice-straw compost, the phosphate-solubilizing bacteria obtained from Bogor Agricultural University, and the soil (Typic paleudult) collected from Kentrong Banten, Indonesia. The results have shown that application of humic compounds combined with inoculation of phosphate-solubilizing bacteria increases pH and available P, and decreases exchangeable Al of an ultisol. The improved soil characteristic, however does not lead to the significant differences in the uptake of macronutrients by plant.
 

Key words: Acid soil, exchangeable aluminium, humic compounds, Pseudomonas putida, soybean.