Application Timing of a Ginger-Fermented Microbial Inoculant Affects Soil Nutrient Dynamics, Rice Yield, and Grain Quality in Flooded KDML105 Rice

Information from the abstract

The timing of microbial inoculant application may influence nutrient availability, plant nutrient acquisition, and grain quality in flooded rice systems. This study investigated the effects of the application timing of a ginger-fermented microbial inoculant (GFMI) on soil and floodwater nutrient dynamics, plant performance, grain yield, and grain quality of KDML105 rice under flooded cultivation. The GFMI significantly affected soil pH, soil organic carbon (SOC), ammonium (NH4+-N), available phosphorus (P), soil MRS-culturable presumptive lactic acid bacteria (presumptive LAB) populations, and floodwater NH4+-N concentrations. Although GFMI application before plowing (GFMI-PL) maintained the highest soil presumptive LAB populations throughout the growing season, GFMI application at transplanting (GFMI-TP) produced the strongest agronomic responses. Soil NH4+-N concentrations were generally greater in GFMI-treated plots than in the non-inoculated control (CT) during the active growth period, with peak concentrations reaching 98.1 mg kg−1 under GFMI-TP compared with 76.0 mg kg−1 in the control at 69 days after transplanting. These responses were accompanied by greater shoot N, P, and K concentrations and the highest paddy rice yield (6.40 Mg ha−1), representing a 15.5% increase over the CT (5.54 Mg ha−1). GFMI-TP also produced the highest crude protein (7.62%) and crude fat (0.63%) concentrations and increased the abundance of several amino acids, particularly glutamic acid (0.61 g 100 g−1 protein), aspartic acid (0.29 g 100 g−1 protein), and proline (0.24 g 100 g−1 protein). GFMI application also influenced grain mineral composition, although responses varied among individual elements. In contrast, cooking quality characteristics were not significantly affected by treatment. Sensory evaluation indicated greater consumer preference for GFMI-treated rice, with GFMI-TP receiving the highest scores for aroma, taste/flavor, and overall acceptance. Overall, these findings demonstrate that synchronizing GFMI application with transplanting maximized the benefits of the fermented microbial inoculant, resulting in improved nutrient availability, grain yield, and grain quality in KDML105 rice under flooded cultivation. These results highlight the potential of ginger-fermented microbial inoculants as a biologically based strategy for improving nutrient management and sustainable rice production.

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Related topics: Plant-Microbe Interactions and Immunity · Plant responses to water stress · Rice Cultivation and Yield Improvement