The effect of inoculation of vermicompost with nitrogen-®xing Azotobacter chroococcum strains, Azospirillum lipoferum and the
phosphate solubilizing Pseudomonas striata on N and P contents of the vermicompost was assessed. Inoculation of N2 ®xing
bacteria into vermicompost increased contents of N and P. Enriching vermicompost with rock phosphate improved signi®cantly the
available P when inoculated with P. striata. During the incubation period, the inoculated bacterial strains proliferated rapidly, ®xed
N and solubilized added and native phosphate. Ó 2000 Published by Elsevier Science Ltd.