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Title: Does azospirillum brasilense and biostimulant improve the initial growth of rice sown at greater depths?

Author
item DA SILVA OLIVEIRA, CARLOS - State University Of Mato Grosso Do Sul
item ZOZ, TIAGO - State University Of Mato Grosso Do Sul
item VENDRUSCOLO, EDUARDO - State University Of Mato Grosso Do Sul
item DE ANDRADE, AGNER - (NCE, CECR)networks Of Centres Of Exellence Of Canada, Centres Of Excellence For Commercilization A
item SERON, CASSIO - State University Of Mato Grosso Do Sul
item Witt, Travis

Submitted to: Journal of Crop Science and Biotechnology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/22/2020
Publication Date: 6/8/2020
Citation: Oliveira, C.E.d.S., Zoz, T., Vendruscolo, E.P., Andrade, A.d.F., Seron, C.d.C., Witt, T.W. 2020. Does azospirillum brasilense and biostimulant improve the initial growth of rice sown at greater depths?. Journal of Crop Science and Biotechnology. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12892-020-00055-4.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12892-020-00055-4

Interpretive Summary: The definition of adequate sowing depth for crops with small seeds, such as rice, is a key factor in obtaining high yields. Seeders are not precise to deposit the seeds at the ideal depth. This occurs due to factors such as unevenness of the soil and residues left from the previous crop. This work aimed to evaluate if inoculation with Azospirillum brasilense and the treatment of seeds with biostimulant may favor the emergence and initial growth of rice plants sown at greater depths. Four treatments were evaluated: a) seeds without inoculation and treatment; b) seeds inoculated with A. brasilense; c) seeds treated with biostimulant and d) seeds inoculated with A. brasilense and treated with biostimulant. Rice seeds were sown at four depths: 1.0, 3.0, 5.0 and 7.0 cm. The experiment was carried out until 50 days after sowing. Characteristics of emergence and initial growth of rice were evaluated. Seed treatment with biostimulant does not influence the emergence rate and initial growth of upland rice plants, regardless of the seeding depth. No benefit was observed of the seed inoculation with Azospirllum brasilense and its association with biostimulant for upland rice. Sowing at greater depths results in reduced and delayed seedlings emergence, reduced tiller number and dry matter accumulation in upland rice plants.

Technical Abstract: The sowing operation is crucial for the proper initial establishment of seedlings and their development. However, there is a lack of studies about the effects of sowing depth of rice, as well as technologies that aid to mitigate the prejudicial effects caused by depth. In this way, the present work aimed to evaluate the initial growth of rice plants inoculated with Azospirillum brasiliense and treated with biostimulant sowed at different depths. Randomized complete block design with four replications was used, in a 4 x 4 factorial scheme. The first factor was composed of different seed treatments (a - control - without treatment, b - inoculation with A. brasilense, c - seed treatment with Stimulate® and d - inoculation with A. brasilense associated with seed treatment with Stimulate®). The second factor was composed of four sowing depths (1.0, 3.0, 5.0 and 7.0 cm). Treatment of rice seeds with A. brasilense and Stimulate® decreases the rate of emergence. The sowing at 7 cm depth decreases in 41.44% of the emergence, when compared to sowing at 1 cm. Inoculation with A. brasilense and sowing at increasing depths are prejudicial to initial growth of rice crop.