Abstract
Biochar is widely used as a soil amendment to increase crop yields. However, the impact of the interaction between the biochar and microbial inoculants (e.g., biofertilizer) on plant nutrient uptake and yield in forage rice is not fully understood. A greenhouse study was conducted to evaluate the synergistic effects of rice-husk biochar and Bacillus pumilus strain TUAT-1 biofertilizer application on growth, yield, and nutrient uptake in two forage rice genotypes; Fukuhibiki and the newly bred line, LTAT-29. Positive effects of biochar and biofertilizer, alone or in a combination, on growth traits, nutrient uptake, and yield components were dependent on the rice genotypes. Biochar and TUAT-1 biofertilizer influenced the overall growth of plants positively and increased straw and above-ground biomass in both genotypes. However, although biochar application significantly increased grain yield in LTAT-29, this was not the case in Fukuhibiki. Biochar and TUAT-1 biofertilizer, either alone or combined, significantly affected plant nutrient uptake but the effect largely depended on rice genotype. Results of this study indicate that biochar amendment and TUAT-1 biofertilizer can enhance forage rice productivity depending on genotypes, and therefore, there is a need to consider plant genetic composition when evaluating the potential for crop response to these soil amendments before application on a commercial scale.