ABSTRACT

 This research was carried out to investigate the enhancement of maize growth by plant growth promoting rhizobacteria. The Soil sample was collected from the rhizosphere of grown maize plant from the Department of Agriculture and stored in a polyethylene bag and taken to the laboratory for analysis. In order to identify the bacteria present in the soil sample, cultural and morphological analysis such as;  shape, size, elevation, transparency, margin, colour, cell type, cell arrangement, motility, gram, oxidase, catalase, citrate, indole, urease, hydrogen sulphide, lactose, sucrose, glucose, maltose and sorbitol were carried out. The plant growth promoting traits (such as Ammonium production, Hydrogen cyanide, Phosphate solubilization and Indole acetic acid) were also carried out. Two bacteria were isolated and were used to inoculate pepper seed. Two bacteria isolated ware Pseudomonas sp. and Bacillus sp. and were used to inoculate maize seed. Thirty maize seeds were inoculated with the bacterial species. Control experiments were also set up in triplicates. It was observed that the fresh weight recorded Control was more effective cross the three samples and Bacillus sp. was less effective. For the shoot dry weight, Pseudomonas sp. was more effective across the three samples Bacillus sp. was less effective in shoot dry weight. In shoot length, control was more effective across the three samples and Pseudomonas sp. + Bacillus sp. was less effective. In the root length, control was more effective across the three samples and Pseudomonas sp. + Bacillus sp. was less effective. The root dry weight and number of leaves, control was more effective across the samples and Pseudomonas sp. + Bacillus sp. was less effective. The isolated plant growth promoting rhizobacteria species had less significant effects on the growth parameters of the three maize planted.