Growth Response and Yield of Saline Tolerant Rice Varieties to Bio-fertilizer Application at Central Java North Coastal Saline Paddy Field

Abstract

Extension of rice production to coastal area of some islands in Indonesia is subjectd to problems that include: high salinity, poor soil fertility and limited number of available saline tolerant varieties. A field experiment was carried out to study the growth response and yield of several saline tolerant rice varieties to bio-fertilizer application at northern coastal area paddy field of Pemalang, Central Java, Indonesia. Four rice varieties that consisted of saline tolerant varieties Inpari Unsoed 79 Agritan, Inpari 34 Salin, and Banyuasin, and one saline intolerant variety Ciherang, were grown and treated with foliar application of commercial bio-fertilizers Bio-P60, Herbafarm and Biofarm which are known to contain active microorganisms. These rice varieties and bio-fertilizers were arranged in Randomized Complete Blocked Design with three replicates. Rice crop management were carried out following recommendation of locale rice management practice. The results demonstrated that BioP60 and Biofarm have greater effect on leaf chlorophyll content as compared to Herbafarm. The lowest percentage of empty grains per panicle was found on Biofarm application (19.6%). No significant diference was observed on the effect of bio-fertilizers on other growth variables and yield. Growth performance and yield variation were observed among the four rice varieties when grown on saline paddy field (EC of 0.65 dS/m, 6.7 pH, 5.37 cmol/kg exchangeable-Na). Ciherang and Inpari Unsoed 79 Agritan demonstrated greater grain weight per effective plot and greater grain weight per hectare. No interaction effect between bio-fertilizer application and varieties was observed on all growth variables and yield of the rice.