Enhancing growth and yield attributes through bio priming approach in direct seeded rice

Sowing pregerminated and primed rice seeds was found to be advantageous in shortening the numbers of emergence, heading, and maturity days. Reduction in the maturity period of rice by 14.1 days is a significant phonological achievement. Therefore, to ensure the benefits of seed enhancing techniques on seed yield and yield components of rice (Oryza sativa L.),field experiment was conducted in Split Plot Design with four replications using PMK(R)4 with fourteen different seed biopriming liquid microbial cultures and its combinations. The results showed that the seeds soaked in equal volume of liquid microbial cultures Azospirillum+ Phosphobacteria 20% for 18hrs recorded maximum plant height at 45(29.2cm), 90DAS(105.2 cm) and harvest stages (113.3 cm). The leaf area index(10), number of productive tillers, panicle length(36.3 cm), number of spikelets per panicle (106) and panicle weight were maximum in co-inoculated priming treatment Azospirillum + Phosphobacteria and Azospirillum+ Phosphobacteria+ Silicate Solublizing Bacteria followed by Azosprillium 20% for 18hrs and minimum with non-primed seeds. Combined application of Azospirillum + Phosphobacteria was found to be most effective treatment in improving seed yield per plot(6.6g), seed yield per hectare and 1000 seed weight (24.72 g) over non-primed seeds.