Growth Parameters and Grain Yield of Rice (Oryza sativa L.) as Affected by Biofilm Biofertilizer Application

Abstract

Overuse of synthetic fertilizer causes a number of detrimental impacts on both human and environmental health. Hence, beneficial microbial biofilm-based Biofilm biofertilizers (BFBFs) have been developed to make agro ecosystems more eco- friendly. Accordingly, it has been revealed that the BFBFs can reduce current application of chemical fertilizers (CF) in rice even up to 50% without hampering grain yield in field experiments in research stations. Thus, the aim of the present study was to evaluate growth parameters and grain yield of rice after application of BFBF in farmers’ fields. The experiment was designed in block design for paired comparison with uniform, consecutive paddy fields in 12 farmer fields in the Polonnaruwa district. The farmers’ CF practice (N: P: K; 155:20:20) and BFBF practice (1 L BFBF with N: P: K; 59:15:16) were applied as treatments with 12 location replicates per treatment in the Yala 2018 season. Means of shoot and root dry weights per plant, thousand grain weight and yield of the two practices were evaluated. T-test was used for mean comparison. Results indicated that there is a significant increase (P < 0.05) in shoot (53%) and root (89%) dry weights per plant and thousand grain weight (18%) in BFBF practice compared to the farmers’ CF practice. Further, the average grain yield of the BFBF practice was 5,112 kg/ha whereas that of farmers’ CF practice was 4,238 kg/ha, a 21% increment in the grain yield. Hence, it can be concluded that the BFBF can enhance plant growth and grain yield while reducing farmers’ use of CF in paddy fields.