Effect of pink pigmented facultative methylotrophs (PPFM) on growth and growth attributes of rice (Oryza sativa L.)

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted to assess the effect of PPFM on the growth of aerobic rice, at Integrated Farming System Research Station, Karamana, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, during summer, 2019 -2020 with the medium duration rice variety MO16 (Uma). The experiment was laid out in factorial randomised block design with [(5 x 2) + 2] treatments replicated thrice. The treatments comprised of five promising isolates of PPFM (P) obtained from the Department of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, two methods of application (M) compared against two controls (C). Among the PPFM isolates tested, PPFM 38 resulted in taller plants, more number of tillers per square metre, leaf area index, dry matter production and root shoot ratio. However, root volume of rice was observed to be higher with PPFM 16 and remained at par with PPFM 38. Treating rice seeds with PPFM at 1 per cent followed by foliar application (2%) at 30 and 50 DAS had significantly superior effect on the above mentioned growth attributes except root volume. Growth and growth attributes were significantly superior with the treatment combination PPFM 38 as seed treatment + foliar application. Between the controls, KAU POP was significantly superior to KAU POP + water spray.