Application of local microbes increases growth and yield of several local upland rice cultivars of Southeast Sulawesi, Indonesia

Abstract

Rice is the major food commodity in Indonesia and many other countries, as the main source of carbohydrate. Rice production must be increased continuously to meet food needs, one of which is by utilizing largely available dry land areas. Two important factors required to increase rice production on marginal soils are the use of high-production adaptive varieties and biological agents. It is necessary to conduct research on the application of local microbes to the cultivation of upland rice cultivars, with the aim to determine the best genotypes and/or suitable microbes. This research was carried out at the Research Field and laboratories of Faculty of Agriculture, University of Halu Oleo, from April 2020 to April 2021. The first tested factor was biological agents (local microbes), consisting of three levels, namely: without microbes (M0), the fungus Trichoderma sp. (M1), and the bacteria Pseudomonas sp. (M2). The second factor was the upland rice cultivar, which consisted of five levels, namely: V1 (Tinangge cultivar), V2 (Enggalaru cultivar), V3 (Bakala cultivar), V4 (Momea cultivar), and 1 nasional variety, namely V5 (Inpago-12 variety), as check variety. The research results showed that the interaction between local microbes Trichoderma sp. (M1) and Pseudomonas sp. (M2) on Tinangge (V1) and Momea (V4) cultivars gave a better effect on crop production. The best cultivar based on the growth and yield variables was generally obtained from the Momea cultivar (V4), although in many variables it was not significantly different from the Tinangge cultivar (V1). These cultivars could be further studied and possibly developed for promising cultivars in Kendari areas.