Biofertilizer Microgeo® on Rice Crop: Yield and Seed Quality

Rice is the most important crop for the south and south-west region of the Rio Grande do Sul state (Brazil); as all commercial crops, irrigated rice is requiring the use of alternatives for increasing yield and quality of its product with less aggressive/toxic inputs in the environment. The aim of this study was to analyze the influence of the biofertilization in the rice crop yield and the parameter of its seed quality and grain quality. It was carried out a field experiment with two treatments (with and without biofertilization with 150 + 150 L CLC® ha-1) with 12 repetitions in an irrigated rice. Biofertilization did not influenced the percentages of whole grain, polished grain and no broken grain. There were no difference between the treatments for final seed germination, seed hectoliter weight and pH. The rice yield with biofertilization using continuous liquid composting was not statistically higher, an expected result for a first year of biofertilization. However, it provided 398 kg ha-1 grain yield increase, which is a very positive and a promising result considering being the first year of application. Therefore, a significant yield increase for the following years of application is expected.