Effects of beneficial microorganisms on upland rice performance

ABSTRACT Inoculating plants with a mix of beneficial microorganisms can significantly improve plant growth and contribute to sustainable agriculture. However, it is unclear if mixed inoculations of microorganisms provide better results than inoculations of a single beneficial microorganism. Thus, the objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of beneficial microorganisms on the performance of upland rice in a greenhouse experiment using a completely randomized design with three repetitions and 26 treatments. The treatments consisted of inoculations of Bacillus sp. (BRM32110), Serratia sp. (BRM32114), Azospirillum sp. (1381), Bacillus sp. (1301), A. brasilense (Ab-V5) and a pool of Trichoderma asperellum in isolation or in a mixture in addition to a control treatment (without application of microorganisms). Microorganisms significantly affected gas exchange, biomass production and nutrient accumulation in upland rice plants. The mixed treatments of BRM32114 + pool of T. asperellum and Ab-V5 + pool of T. asperellum were more effective than the other treatments, with improved gas exchange variables and nutrient concentration. The 1301 + Ab-V5 mixed treatment showed higher averages for biomass production than the other treatments, and these values were significantly different from those of the control treatment. RESUMO As inoculações em plantas com mix de microrganismos benéficos podem melhorar significativamente o crescimento dessas e contribuir para uma agricultura sustentável. Entretanto, ainda existem questionamentos se inoculações em mix poderiam proporcionar resultados ainda melhores do que na forma isolada, sendo necessários estudos adicionais. Desta forma, objetivou-se avaliar os efeitos de microrganismos benéficos no desempenho da cultura do arroz de terras altas, em experimento conduzido em casa de vegetação, usando delineamento inteiramente casualizado, com três repetições e 26 tratamentos, que consistiram da inoculação de microrganismos isolados ou em mix de Bacillus sp., Serratia sp., Azospirillum sp., Bacillus spp., Azospirillum brasilense (Ab-V5) e um pool de Trichoderma asperellum, além do tratamento controle (sem aplicação de microrganismos). Os microrganismos afetaram significativamente as trocas gasosas, produção de biomassa e teor de nutrientes em plantas de arroz de terras altas. Os tratamentos mix BRM32114 + pool de T. asperellum, e Ab-V5 + pool de T. asperellum, foram mais efetivos, com destaque para as variáveis de trocas gasos