Vol. 9, Issue 2, Part G (2024)

Author(s): Meenakshi BC

Abstract: A pot experiment was conducted using the nitrogen fixing and phosphate solubilizing organisms and two reference strains viz., A. chroococcum and B. megaterium along with an arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus, G. fasciculatum either singly or in combinations under glass house conditions. The results for growth Parameters recorded at 40 and 80 days after sowing revealed increased plant height, number of tillers and panicles in the inoculated treatments compared to the un-inoculated control plants. The population of the free living nitrogen fixing and phosphate solubilising microorganisms and the activity of soil enzymes (dehydrogenase, urease and phosphatase) in the rhizosphere soil found to be significantly increased during the panicle initiation stage. The plant biomass and grain yield of the aerobic rice was significantly increased due to inoculation of nitrogen fixers and phosphate solubilizers either singly or in combinations. The fresh weight and dry weight production of aerobic rice in dual inoculations and triple inoculation consortia varied between the treatments but showed increased biomass compared to the control. The triple inoculation of A. salinestris + A. calcoaceticus + G. fasciculatum produced highest grains compared to the dual and single inoculations. The nitrogen and phosphorus content of the plants increased in the treatments inoculated with nitrogen fixer and phosphate solubilizer respectively. The Application of consortia performed better than the individual inoculations.