Trichoderma-mediated rice straw compost promotes plant growth and imparts stress tolerance

Area of Science:

• Agricultural Science
• Environmental Science
• Microbiology

Background:

• Rice straw burning poses significant economic and environmental challenges.
• Microbial ex situ composting offers a sustainable solution for rice straw management.
• Composting can convert agricultural waste into valuable soil amendments.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy of Trichoderma reesei in decomposing rice straw.
• To assess the nutritional quality of Trichoderma-mediated rice straw compost.
• To investigate the impact of this compost on rice growth, nutrient uptake, and stress tolerance.

Main Methods:

• Isolation and selection of efficient rice straw decomposing Trichoderma strains.
• Ex situ composting of rice straw using selected Trichoderma reesei isolates (NRRIT-26 and NRRIT-27).
• Analysis of enzyme production (cellulase, xylanase, laccase) during decomposition.
• Characterization of compost's nutrient content and C/N ratio.
• Evaluation of compost's effect on rice seed germination, seedling vigor, chlorophyll content, and defense enzyme expression.

Main Results:

• Trichoderma reesei isolates produced high levels of decomposing enzymes, facilitating efficient straw breakdown.
• The resulting compost exhibited enhanced nutrient content (1.97% N, 2.04% K, 0.88% P) and an optimal C/N ratio (28:2).
• Rice treated with the compost showed reduced germination time (2.2 days), improved seedling vigor, higher chlorophyll content, and significantly increased defense enzyme activity (catalase, peroxidase, superoxide dismutase), indicating enhanced stress tolerance.

Conclusions:

• Trichoderma-mediated rice straw composting is a viable strategy for agricultural waste management.
• The compost improves soil fertility and promotes healthier, more resilient rice crops.
• This approach mitigates environmental hazards associated with rice straw burning while enhancing crop productivity.