Endophytic Microbiome and Soil Conditioners are among the Pillars Supporting Rice Productivity in Salt-affected Environments

Abstract

A comprehensive field investigation was undertaken in clay-rich soil at the Sahl El-Hossynia Agricultural Research Station situated in the EL-Sharkia Governorate of Egypt. In the summer season of the year 2022, the rice cultivar Oryza sativa L. Giza 178 was systematically cultivated was grown using three replications of every treatment in a randomized split plot design, to assess the efficacy of endophytic growth-promoting bacteria (PGPR) as main plots in conjunction with various soil conditioners as sub main plots aimed at enhancing soil chemical properties and biological activity, which would ultimately affect rice productivity and mineral nutrient content. The findings showed that, in contrast to the control treatment, organic matter (OM) significantly increased while pH and EC values significantly decreased when PGPR inoculation was coupled with specific soil conditioners. The pH and EC values dramatically dropped of 22.4 and 3.29%, respectively, as compared to the control, while the amount of organic matter increased of 3.48% when compost and potassium silicate were added in addition to inoculation. There were notable positive effects on the available N, K, and Na, along with the total level of microbial activity from bacteria in the soil. In comparison to the control and other treatments, PGPR inoculation in conjunction with compost + potassium silicate yielded a significant enhancement in the productivity of 32.1% and 31.9% for straw and grains rice, respectively. While nutrient contents N, K, and Na were increased overcontrol of 48.2,107.1 and 62.8 for straw, corresponding for grains of 42.4, 1o8.7 and 110%, respectively. In conclusion, PGPR inoculation in the presence of soil conditioner especially compost and biochar combination with potassium silicate, improved the saline soil properties, and nutrients uptake that reflected on the yield components.