Effects of bacterial inoculation on soil physical properties

This study was carried out to investigate the impacts of bacterial inoculation on texturally different soil samples under greenhouse conditions. Sandy loam (SL), clay loam (CL), and clay (C) textured soils were inoculated with Bacillus arenosi K64 (B. arenosi), Bacillus megaterium M3 (B. megaterium), and Bacillus subtilis OSU 142 (B. subtilis) isolates and then incubated at 5 different periods [I (20 days), II (40 days), III (60 days), IV (80 days), and V (100 days)]. Soil physical properties, including bulk density, total porosity, mean weight diameter, and intrinsic permeability, were evaluated. It was found that bacterial inoculation caused a decrease in soil bulk density and intrinsic permeability, increased porosity, and mean weight diameter. In sum, the most effective results were noticed in the soils inoculated with B. subtilis.