Abstract:Objective To explore plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) resources from the rhizosphere soil of maize in a maize-soybean rotation system and elucidate their roles in promoting the growth of maize and soybean, thus providing a theoretical basis and practical support at the microbial level for the sustainable development of agriculture. Methods Actinomycetes strains were isolated from the rhizosphere soil of maize via the dilution plating method with Gauze’s Synthetic Medium No. 1. The strains capable of secreting protease, producing siderophores, and fixing nitrogen were selected out. The isolated strains were identified by means of morphological observation and 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis. After optimization of the fermentation conditions and tests of stress tolerance, a synthetic microbial consortium (SMC) was prepared. Its growth-promoting effects on maize and soybean were evaluated through seed germination tests and pot experiments. Results A total of 105 Actinomycetes strains were isolated, five of which simultaneously exhibited the abilities of siderophore production, protease secretion, and nitrogen fixation. These strains were identified as Arthrobacter pokkalii (JM-18, JM-21), A. oryzae (JM-24), A. ginsengisoli (JM-47), and A. pascens (JM-48). They were mixed in equal proportions to form a SMC. Growth promotion assays showed that the SMC significantly improved maize seed germination and maize plant growth in pots. Specifically, the SMC increased the root length and shoot length in the seed germination assay by 120.22% and 20.94%, respectively, and it also significantly increased the plant height, root length, fresh weight, and dry weight of maize plants in pots. Moreover, the SMC markedly promoted soybean development, increasing soybean shoot length by 42.08% during seed germination. For potted soybean plants, the SMC increased the plant height, root length, fresh weight, and dry weight by 39.40%, 93.31%, 161.14%, and 163.57%, respectively. Conclusion We successfully identified five Actinomycetes strains capable of secreting protease, producing siderophores, and fixing nitrogen. The SMC constructed from these strains significantly enhances the growth of both maize and soybean. This study offers promising microbial resources for the development of efficient and environmentally friendly biofertilizers.