The application of mineral fertilizers is the most advantageous and the fastest way to increase crop yields. In the last few decades the rate of nitrogen (N), phosphorous (P) and potassium (K) or NPK fertilizer application has tremendously increased in crop production. The excessive use of synthetic agrochemicals in crop production and in soil fertility management causes residue toxicity and environmental pollution. This is due to low use efficiency of externally applied fertilizers by the plants, long-term application, leaching, and evaporation to atmosphere. Therefore, the reduced use of synthetic agrochemicals in crop production and to maintain soil fertility by alternative means is the subject of investigation. The challenge is to continue sustainable agricultural crop production through minimization of harmful effect of fertilization. Among the different alternatives, researchers hypothesized that plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) could be a substitute to these. A field trial was carried out in acid sulphate paddy soil to study the effect of Azospirillum lipoferum as a PGPR on the growth of a local rice variety cultivated in Mekong Delta, Vietnam. The results showed that rice inoculated with A. lipoferum with combination of 50% N/ha of inorganic fertilizer improved color leaf index, plant height, length of panicle, number of panicle/m2, dry weight of straw and rice yield equivalent to those of rice grown with 100%N/ha of inorganic fertilizer without A. lipoferum inoculation. Especially, root length of inoculated rice with A. lipoferum with 50% N/ha was significantly longer than those of uninoculated rice applied only with 100% N/ha.. Our results suggest that application of A. lipoferum with reduced dose of N/ha could promote rice growth and enhance yields compared to higher dose of N/ha without A. lipoferum. This gives us an idea about the potentiality of these PGPR strain and their application in rice cultivation to get a better harvest index. Their use will also possibly reduce the nutrient runoff or leaching and increase in the use efficiency of the applied fertilizers. Thus, we can conclude that the NPK uptake and management can be improved by the use of PGPR in rice cultivation, and their application may be much more beneficial in the agricultural field in Mekong Delta of Vietnam.
Tạp chí khoa học Trường Đại học Cần Thơ
Lầu 4, Nhà Điều Hành, Khu II, đường 3/2, P. Xuân Khánh, Q. Ninh Kiều, TP. Cần Thơ
Điện thoại: (0292) 3 872 157; Email: tapchidhct@ctu.edu.vn
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