Effect of Gluconacetobacter diazotrophicus inoculation and reduced nitrogen fertilizer on yield and growth parameters of rice varieties

Abstract: This study aimed to investigate effects of nitrogen (N) fertilizer rates and inoculation of rice seeds with N-fixing bacterium Gluconacetobacter diazotrophicus on the growth parameters and yield of OM5451 and OM6976 rice varieties in the Vietnamese Mekong Delta region. Nitrogen fertilizer rates of 50 kg N.ha-1 and 100 kg N.ha-1 were used, with latter reflecting farmer practice. Three rice seed inoculation methods were also employed: Seeds soaked in water for 24 hours and allowed to stand for 30 hours (control) (B0); Seeds soaked in water for 24 hours and inoculated with G. diazotrophicus for 30 hours (B1); Seeds soaked with G. diazotrophicus in water for 24 hours and allowed to stand for 30 hours. Applying 50 kg N.ha-1 without combining with NFB bacterium in this experiment generally resulted in less tillers, shorter plants, a lower SPAD index, and lower grain yield. Combining G. diazotrophicus bacterium with reduced N fertilizer of 50 kg N.ha-1 demonstrated rice growth and yield may be maintained in both varieties compared to 100 kg N.ha-1. These results providing a firm foundation for future research of adding NFB to paddy soils to decrease the N fertilizer requirement.