Influence of Mycorrhizae and Rhizobium Inoculation on Growth, Nutrient Uptake and Proximate Composition of Upland Rice Cultivars

Abstract

The activities of microbial rhizospheric organisms have been well documented in non-leguminous plants such as wheat, rice and maize. Such activities include nitrogen fixation, phosphate solubilization and mineralization that are beneficial for the overall growth and development of the plant. Field experiments were carried out in the early and late cropping season of 2013 in the tropical rainforest agro-ecology of southwest Nigeria to study the growth promotion, nutrient uptake, proximate composition of upland rice and harvested grains based on single inoculation of Mycorrhizae and Rhizobium. A 5 x 3 factorial experiment was conducted; five upland rice varieties selected with and without the application of mycorrhizae and rhizobium, laid out in split plot arrangement, with mycorrhizae and rhizobium in the main block, while variety was in the sub-plot. Each treatment was replicated three times. In both seasons, result show significant (P < 0.05) effect of single mycorrhizae and rhizobium inoculation on plant growth (plant height, numbers of tillers and leaves) and plant biomass except for shoot weight in the late season. Also, result show significant (P < 0.05) effect of single mycorrhizae and rhizobium inoculation on nutrient uptake in both seasons. Significant (P < 0.05) effect of single mycorrhizae and rhizobium inoculation was observed in proximate composition of rice grains in the early season, with rhizobium inoculated rice having the highest protein content. It was concluded that upland rice inoculation with mycorrhizae and rhizobium  improved their nutrient uptake, proximate composition and growth.

Keywords: Mycorrhizae, rhizobium, upland rice, nutrient uptake, growth, proximate composition