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ABSTRACT
Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L.Walp) I is widely cultivated crop within the tropical regions of the world and is also a major source of income to farmers. This study aimed to evaluate the role of soil bacteria in cowpea growth promotion. The culturable bacterial profiles of different soil samples were evaluated using standard procedures such as pour plating and biochemical tests. Growth promotion activities of tentatively identified bacterial isolates on four varieties of cowpea; (Ife brown, IT99k, market brown and market white) were also examined. Growth parameters evaluated included; root length, root width, shoot width, shoot length, number of leaves, whole plant fresh weight, whole plant dry weight, shoot fresh weight, shoot dry weight, root fresh weight, root dry weight and germinated seed percentage. The soil borne heterotrophic bacterial counts ranged from 2.77 × 104 cfu/g to 2.90 × 104 cfu/g.Two unique bacterial isolates were tentatively identified namely Bacillus sp. and Pseudomonas sp. The bacterial species were negative to ammonia production and hydrogen cyanide tests. The co-inoculants (Pseudomonas + Bacillus) produced the highest root length (7.77 cm) for market white cowpea seedlings.Bacillus treatments however, produced the highest root length (10.23 cm) and root width (0.37 cm) for market brown cowpea seedlings. Based on the documented direct effect of edaphic physico-chemical parameters such as pH, soil profile and moisture content, it is recommended that the physico-chemical attributes of soil samples should be examined.
