Inoculation of rice with nitrogen-fixing bacteria —problems and perspectives

Summary The present status and merits of inoculating rice with N₂-fixing bacteria are discussed in the light of recent advances. Bacterial inoculation improves plant growth and rice yield but not uniformly. The yield response to inoculation is more pronounced in the presence of moderate levels of fertilizer N. Evidence for the establishment and activity of the inoculated bacteria is limited, and the poor survival of the inoculum under field conditions further complicates the effects of inoculation. There is no clear evidence that improved growth and mineral content following inoculation are due to increased N₂ fixation. Beneficial effects of the inoculum on rice, such as plant growth promotion, N₂ fixation and antagonism effects against pathogens need to be further investigated under laboratory and field conditions. Improved management practices, such as organic amendments, suitable water and soil management, selection of efficient microbial strains, selection of effective breeding lines with high associative nitrogen fixation, and better management of agrochemicals are some of the measures suggested for deriving benefits from bacterial associations with rice.