The phenotypic and genotypic characterization of eight rhizobial isolates obtained from Arachis hypogaea nodules grown under stress environment was performed. Isolates were screened for their ability to tolerate different abiotic stresses (high temperature (60° C), salinity (1–5% (w/v) NaCl), and pH (1–12). The genomic analysis of 16S rRNA and housekeeping genes (atpD, recA, and glnII) demonstrated that native groundnut rhizobia from these stress soils are representatives of fast growers and phylogenetically related to Rhizobium sp. The phenotypic characterization (generation time, carbon source utilization) also revealed the isolates as fast-growing rhizobia. All the isolates can tolerate NaCl up to 3% and were able to grow between 20 and 37 °C with a pH between 5 to 10, indicating that the isolates were alkali and salt-tolerant. The tested isolates effectively utilize mono and disaccharides as carbon source. Out of eight, three rhizobial isolates (BN-20, BN-23, and BN-50) were able to nodulate their host plant, exhibiting their potential to be used as native groundnut rhizobial inoculum. The plant growth promoting characterization of all isolates revealed their effectiveness to solubilize inorganic phosphate (56–290 µg mL⁻¹), synthesize indole acetic acid (IAA) (24–71 µg mL⁻¹), and amplification of nitrogen fixing nifH gene, exploring their ability to be used as groundnut biofertilizer to enhance yield and N₂-fixation for the resource poor farmers of rainfed Pothwar region.

Conventional agricultural practices and a rapidly growing population have both contributed to an increase in interest in cutting-edge research on environmental friendly farming methods. A field experiment to investigate the potential of soil probiotics on soil and plant health is under process at IOT Smart Research Farm, PMAS-Arid Agriculture University Rawalpindi from 22 June till mid October 2022. The plots contain four different treatments (Control, Full dose NPK, Probiotics only and ½ NPK+ Probiotics) on peanut crop. Probiotics (Actinomycetes sp. & Mycobacterium neoaurum) were applied through seed coating. Treatments were triplicated in a randomized complete block design. Different plant physiological characteristics (height, canopy, no of leaves, leaf area index, chlorophyll content, and normalized difference vegetation index) and soil properties (pH, Ec, moisture, nitrogen, phosphorous, and potassium) are under investigation. For different plant parameters different novel devices are being used, such as leaf area index meters to find the index area, and chlorophyll meters for chlorophyll content, whereas for soil parameters proximal sensors are being used. The findings of the trial up till now show the best results in ½ NPK+ probiotics followed by probiotics, full-dose NPK and control which are encouraging, indicating enhanced crop productivity and improved soil health. This study will provide a way out for increased peanut production in an environmental friendly manner for farmers.