The role of endophytic bacteria in increasing nitrogen concentration, root length, and dry weight of rice plants (Oryza sativa L.) in saline soil

Soil salinity can interfere with the absorption of water and plant nutrients, causing a decrease in growth and yield of rice plants in saline soil. This negative effect can be reduced by the application of endophytic bacteria biofertilizer. Endophytic bacteria live in plant tissues and play a role in increasing plant growth through nitrogen fixation or growth hormone production. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of endophytic bacterial biofertilizer application on N concentration, root length, and dry weight of rice seedlings (Oryza sativa L.) in soils with different salinities. This research was conducted in the greenhouse of the Faculty of Agriculture, Universitas Padjadjaran. The experimental design used was a Randomized Block Design (RBD) with 8 combinations. The treatments were with and without endophytic bacterial biofertilizers, and soils with different levels of salinity (non-saline soil and saline soil with salinities of 2, 4, and 6 mmhos cm-1) and repeated 4 times. The experimental results showed that the combination treatment of endophytic bacterial biofertilizer in saline soil of 2 mmhos cm-1 was able to increase the N concentration, root length, and dry weight of rice plants which were higher than the treatment of endophytic bacterial biofertilizer in soil with salinity of 4 and 6 mmhos cm-1. The application of endophytic bacteria biofertilizer has higher dry weight of rice plants than without endophytic bacteria at each different salinity level.