Seed treatment using biofertilizer to improve plant growth and yield performances of upland rice cultivars under various planting densities

Abstract

Producing upland rice through the use of high yielding cultivars and better agronomical practices is a promising way to improve rice production in Indonesia. The objectives of the study were to evaluate the effect of seed treatment on growth and yield of two upland rice cultivars under two planting densities, and to identify its related traits. A field experiment was conducted in Banten Province, Indonesia. Two rice cultivars, Inpago 8 and Inpago 9 were treated with biofertilizer and were arranged into double-row system with the density of 21 plants m−2 or 33 plants m−2. Research results showed that seed treatment significantly improved plant growth and seed yield for both cultivars due to greater panicle number and seed number per panicle. Biofertilizer contributed to a greater amount of total biomass as well as harvest index (HI). Increasing planting density from 21 to 33 plants per m−2 improved panicle number that affected seed yield increase. The Inpago 9 performed superior in seed yield as compared to Inpago 8 due to better seed number per panicle and HI. High yielding upland rice cultivars in combination with biofertilizer and appropriate planting density would be an approach to improve upland rice production.