Effect of New Biofertilizer Formulations on the Growth and Yield of Rice (Oryza sativa L., var. VGD1) under Field Conditions

Abstract

This study aims to evaluate the agronomic efficacy of different formulations of RhizoMyx Eco Gr, a granular microbial bioformulation, on growth, yield attributes, and soil biological activity in paddy (Oryza sativa L., var. VGD1) under field conditions. The experiment was conducted from July 2024 to December 2024, covering a total duration of six months. The experiment was laid out in a Randomized Complete Block Design with 4 treatments, which included different levels of RhizoMyx Eco Gr formulations replicated four times with uniform agronomic practices. RhizoMyx Eco Gr-2 is a microbial bioformulation developed by Novozymes South Asia, and the main purpose of applying RhizoMyx Eco Gr-2 is to improve soil microbial activity and plant nutrition, ultimately sustainably enhancing crop productivity. The best treatment, RhizoMyx Eco Gr-2, significantly improved key growth and yield parameters of paddy variety VGD1 compared to the control (RhizoMyx Eco Gr-1 (Control), T1). Plant height increased by approximately 69% (from 21.28 cm to 35.95 cm), grain yield increased by 21.6% (from 5980 kg/ha to 7270 kg/ha), and straw yield improved by 24.7% (from 9390 kg/ha to 11710 kg/ha). Additionally, the vigour score increased by 6.7% (from 3.75 to 4.00). These enhancements are supported by higher tiller counts and improved nutrient uptake, demonstrating RhizoMyx Eco Gr-2 as the most effective biofertilizer treatment for enhancing paddy growth and productivity under the study conditions. These findings confirmed that RhizoMyx Eco Gr is a promising plant growth-promoting bio-input that enhances nutrient uptake and yield in rice.