Photosynthetic Bacteria for Sustainable Rice Production

1. Photosynthetic Bacteria for Sustainable Rice Production Presented By: SamirEbsonTopno ENS 275 UPLB, Philippines

2. Introduction • 1960-1970 green revolution resulted dramatic yield increase • Asian countries showing signs of fatigue in productivity gains(Kesawan & Swaminathan, 2008) • Intensive agriculture led to loss of soil health, depletion of freshwater resources and agro-biodiversity. • Rice staple food for 3.31 billion people out of world population 6.22 billion (FAO, 2002) • Rice – staple food low-income and developing countries.

3. Problem with Chemical fertilizers • fertilizer costs 30-40% in the rice production • Cost of urea 38.29 % increased since 2006(www.nscb.gov.ph, 2008) • High Energy consuming-78,230 kJ/kg of nitrogen from production to apply (Helsel, 1992) • High content of hydrochloric and sulfuric acid in chemical fertilizers • Destroyed nitrogen fixing organism in the soil

4. 50 % of applied nitrogen lost to the environment (MA, UNEP, 2005) • Unabsorbed chemical fertilizers travel to water resources and cause eutrophication • Artificial nitrogenous fertilizers largest contributors of CH₄ and N₂O • Threatened human health (Verhoog and others, 2003) • Excessive nitrogen application led to pest problem (Jahn, 2004)

5. Nitrogen Fixing Bacteria • Wide diversity of N₂ fixing organisms (diazotrophs) • Free living – Rhodospirillum, Bradyrhizobium and cyanobacteria etc • Inhabit flood water, surface soil etc

6. Evidence of Nitrogen fixation by photosynthetic bacteria • Experiment done in rice field of valencia, Spain • In situ nitrogen fixing rates estimated by acetylene reduction method • Resulted ratio of 3.9 mol of acetylene reduction per mol of N₂ • N₂ fixation rate calibrated 40.5 kg of N/ha/crop on the rice soil system • 3.93 Kg N/ha/crop was fixed in the rice plant

7. Evidence of Nitrogen Fixations by Bacteria • Rhodospseudomonaspalustris increased rice yield (Harada and others, 2005) • Use of EM is more economical and environmental friendly • Successful transition from conventional farming without initial decrease (Minami and Higa, 1994) • Without cultured cyanobacteria can fix 10-40 kg N/ha/year (ACIAR, 2008)

8. Cost of Production Inputs and Yields Kyusei Nature Farming with EM (Farmer’s Groups) Estimated costs of materials for conventional farming were made by the Agricultural Cooperative Association of Tsuruga City, Fukui Prefecture. (Source: Minami and Higa; 1990)

9. PSB production in India (http://www.leofoods.net/en/page2.html

10. Domestic production of Photosynthetic bacteria(Farmers in Japan and Self experience) • It can be multiplied in home • One of the cheapest method • 0.5 kg crude sugar • 0.5 kg of fish head • 0.3 L of PSB culture (or collect from pond sides, red colored soil) • 15 L of water • Keep it in transparent plastic/glass jar for one month until color turns red

11. Application • Apply @ 50 liters/1000 sq. m in the paddy field • Live stock @ 0.02 liter/liter of water

12. Survey in Japan • Japanese farmer used in the paddy field • Result encouraging • “Hinohikari” usually produced 120-140 grains/spikelet • With PSB 180-200 grains/spikelet • Grass hopper attacked other field, his rice field was not affected. • Poultry manure doesn’t produce bad odor • Egg size increased • Chickens are active and healthy

13. Conclusion • Green revolution commodity centered • Environment deteriorated by chemical fertilizers • Solar energy is cheap, • CO₂ reduced, bacteria increases photosynthetic rate of plants • Photosynthetic bacteria can be alternative for chemical fertilizers for sustainable rice production and also to combat global warming