An investigation into the effects of two bio-stimulants on the growth and yield of rice (Oryza sativa)

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted at No. 74 Village, Corentyne, Berbice, Guyana, to evaluate the effects of the bio-stimulant Vitazyme and microbial-based formulations developed by Innovative Eco Care Chemicals on the vegetative growth and yield performance of rice (Oryza sativa L.). The study employed a Completely Randomized Design (CRD) comprising four treatments with three replications each. Treatments included: a control (T1), Vitazyme alone (T2), Innovative Eco Care chemicals (T3), and a combination of Vitazyme with Innovative Eco Care chemicals (T4). Vitazyme was applied at concentrations of 1.25 mL for seed treatment and 5 mL for foliar application, while Inno-care and Isurge were each applied at 5 mL, and Wholesome at 8 mL per application. Data were collected on key agronomic parameters including plant height at maturity (cm), leaf length (cm), number of tillers per plant, number of grains per panicle, 1000-grain weight (g), and paddy yield per treatment (kg). The results demonstrated that treatment T2 (Vitazyme alone) significantly enhanced tiller production with a mean of 23.2 tillers per plant, whereas T4 (Vitazyme combined with Innovative Eco Care products) resulted in the greatest plant height at maturity, averaging 123.2 cm. Although there were observable positive trends in vegetative growth, statistical analysis revealed no significant differences among treatments for reproductive and yield-related parameters, including grain number, 1000-grain weight, and total paddy yield. These findings suggest that while bio-stimulant and microbial-based inputs may improve vegetative vigor, their effect on final yield under the experimental conditions was not significant. Further research under varying environmental conditions and across different growing seasons is recommended to fully elucidate the agronomic potential of these biostimulant and microbial technologies in rice cultivation.