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Abstract

Phosphorus (P) deficiency is a major constraint in alkaline soils, where high pH promotes the formation of insoluble calcium phosphate compounds, thereby reducing P availability to plants. This limited phosphorus accessibility restricts root uptake, disrupts physiological processes, and ultimately reduces crop productivity, highlighting the need for efficient strategies to enhance P availability and use efficiency. The present study evaluated the effects of different phosphatic fertilizer and organic manure combinations, including single super phosphate (SSP) alone (100%), SSP (25%) + farmyard manure (FYM) (75%), SSP (50%) + FYM (50%), SSP (75%) + FYM (25%), and FYM alone (100%), with and without phosphate-solubilizing bacteria (PSB) inoculation on wheat growth, physiological traits, and phosphorus use efficiency. The experiment was conducted in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications. Results showed that, compared with the control (no SSP, no FYM, no PSB), the full SSP + PSB treatment significantly improved plant performance by reducing malondialdehyde (MDA) and hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) by 50.7% and 55.2%, respectively. It also increased net photosynthetic rate (Pn) by 81.4%, stomatal conductance (gs) by 90%, water use efficiency (WUE) by 39.8%, and chlorophyll a and b contents by 66.7% and 61.5%, respectively. Moreover, total phosphorus uptake and phosphorus use efficiency increased by 212.5% and 325%, respectively, under full SSP + PSB application. In conclusion, treatments combining SSP with FYM and PSB are recommended to improve wheat growth when cultivated in P-deficient soil. Further field-scale studies are required to validate this combination as an effective amendment for mitigating phosphorus stress

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