Performance evaluation of native plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria for paddy yield enhancement in the jhum fields of Mokokchung, Nagaland, North East India

The present study was carried out to evaluate the performance of native plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) on jhum paddy yield enhancement in Nagaland, Northeast India. Three indigenous PGPR isolates (Bacillus cereus MKGB, Pseudomonas fluorescens MKGPf, and Azospirillum oryzae MKGAz) were tested in the soil microcosm and jhum fields of Longkhum and Ungma villages in Mokokchung, Nagaland. The maximum 78.44% seed germination, 165 cm plant height, 30 leaves, 5 tillers, and 5 panicles per plant were recorded in the PGPR consortium inoculated pot soil. Similarly, maximum 151 grains per panicle, 21.66 g grain yield per plant, and 33.50 g of straw biomass were recorded in the same treatment. The observations from the field trials revealed a maximum of 4.67 t ha^-1 paddy yield in the Longkhum village jhum field inoculated with the PGPR consortium which was significantly different from the control (T1) at a p value of ≤0.05%. Similarly 4.74 t ha^-1 paddy yield was obtained from the PGPR consortium applied jhum plots in Ungma village. The PGPR consortium was found more effective and promising than the single culture inoculation in paddy yield enhancement. The study suggests the application of tested PGPR consortium in jhum fields for soil health and crop productivity improvement and achieving agricultural sustainability as well as social prosperity in the rural areas of North East India.