The use of phosphate solubilizing bacteria (PSB) as biofertilizers has concurrently increased phosphate uptake in plants and improved crop yield in several crops. A laboratory study was conducted to isolate, identify, and characterize the phosphate solubilizing bacteria from different crop soils. The population of PSB was higher in the rhizosphere soil of maize. Preliminary selections as PSB were done on the basis of formation of transparent zone around the colony on Pikovaskaya’s agar medium. The isolated PSB were identified by their morphological and biochemical properties. The isolates had shown positive results for catalase oxidation test and starch hydrolysis and negative reaction to potassium hydroxide test. The isolates were Gram positive rods designated as Bacillus subtilis. | Isolation, characterization and identification of phosphate solubilizing bacteria from maize rhizosphere soil
