Microbial consortia enhance wheat productivity, plant nutrition and soil fertility in Vertisols of Central India

Sustaining wheat productivity while safeguarding soil health is a pressing challenge in intensive production systems, particularly in the nutrient-immobilizing Vertisols. Conventional reliance on chemical fertilizers has improved yields but compromised soil fertility, necessitating eco-friendly strategies that integrate biofertilizers into nutrient management. This study investigated the individual and combined effects of Azospirillum brasilense , Pseudomonas fluorescens , and effective microorganisms (EM) consortium, applied alongside recommended fertilizer doses, on wheat ( Triticum aestivum L.) performance, nutrient dynamics, soil health and economic returns. A two-year field experiment (2019–2021) conducted at Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh, India, employed a randomized block design with nine treatments. Growth attributes (plant height, biomass, tillers, chlorophyll content), yield parameters, nutrient uptake (N, P, K), soil fertility indices, microbial populations, soil enzyme activities, fertilizer replacement value, and economic returns were systematically assessed. Results revealed that biofertilizer inoculation significantly enhanced plant height, biomass accumulation, tiller number, and chlorophyll content across growth stages. The integrated consortia treatment combining fertilizer with Azospirillum , Pseudomonas , and effective microorganisms (EM) outperformed individual inoculations, recording maximum grain yield (5,881 kg ha −1 ), nutrient uptake (181.0 kg N, 42.1 kg P, 222.3 kg K ha −1 ), and improved soil nutrient status and enzyme activities (urease, phosphatase, and dehydrogenase). Economic analysis showed that microbial consortia increased net returns by ₹25,762 ha −1 and achieved an incremental benefit–cost ratio of 28.62 over the fertilized control. These results confirm that integrating microbial consortia with conventional fertilizers enhances crop productivity while simultaneously improving soil fertility and biological resilience. The study also highlights their potential to reduce chemical fertilizer dependence, enhance nutrient use efficiency, and support climate-resilient, profitable agriculture.