Impact of Biofertilizers on Physiological characteristics of Rice (Oryza sativa L.) cultivar Jaya
*1N. B. Pawar and 2N. S. Suryawanshi
1Department of Botany, Mahatma Phule Arts, Science & Commerce College, Panvel Navi Mumbai,-410206 (India) 2Research Laboratory, Department of Botany, K. V. Pendharkar College of Arts, Science and Commerce, Dombivili (E)-421203 Mumbai (India) *Corresponding Author: nbpawar01@gmail.com
ABSTRACT
Present study was conducted from August 2013 to April 2017 with special emphasis during two kharif seasons (June to November) of 2014-15 and 2015-16. Randomized Block Design (RBD) method was followed to assess the effect of soil based biofertilizers on physiological parameters (photosynthetic pigments such as chlorophyll-a,-b, & total chlorophyll, carbohydrates, crude protein, proline and polyphenol contents) in paddy (Oryza sativa L. cv. Jaya) leaves on 30th, 60th and 90th days after transplantation of 21 days old seedlings and before harvesting. RBD techniques was replicated thrice with twelve treatments such as T0: Control (without fertilizer), T1: Chemical fertilizer (19:19:19), T2: Blue Green Algae (BGA), T3: Azospirillumbrasilense, T4: Bacillus megaterium, T5: Trichoderma viride, T6: Mycorrhizae, T7: Pseudomonas fluorescens, T8: BGA+P. fluorescens, T9: BGA+Mycorrhizae, T10: A. brasilense+B. megaterium and T11: A. brasilense+B. megaterium+P. fluorescens. Results of the study showed that higher values for all physiological parameters were observed for all plants treated with biofertilizers. Also, highest values were recorded in the combined biofertilizer application, than the single or dual combination of biofertilizers on 30th, 60th and 90th days after transplanting (DAT) and before harvesting in the leaves of paddy. This study recommends that, as the biofertilizers are cost effective and environment-friendly, they can be used on large scale to substitute the chemical fertilizers. Similarly, awareness programmes should be organized to create awareness among farmers for application of combination of biofertilizers in intensive agricultural practices. Government officials also enhance the use of biofertilizers by the farmers by providing subsidies on their prices and make them easily available to the farmers to their nearest station or local market.