Role of Methanotrophic Bioinoculation in Modulating Soil Properties under Submerged Rice Cultivation

An investigation was undertaken during kharif, 2022-23 at  the Experimental Farm, department of Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry, Dr. Balasaheb Sawant Konkan Krishi Vidyapeeth Dapoli, Dist. Ratnagiri. The soil was very high in organic carbon content, medium in available nitrogen, low to medium in available phosphorus and high in available potassium content.  Four different methanotrophic consortium viz, control, Type I Methanotrophs consortium (5ml culture per pot), Type II Methanotrophs consortium (5ml culture per pot), and Type Ib Methanotrophs consortium (5ml culture per pot) which were replicated three times to study the effect of different methanotrophic bacteria on chemical properties and nutrient availability in soil. Methanotrophs consortium culture is apply by diluting the culture with water 1:10 ratio (5ml culture in 50 ml water). Based on the experimental findings, concluded that the application of methanotrophic consortium effectively fix nitrogen. Among different treatment the application of Methanotrophic consortium M2 treatment receiving consortium type II applied @ 5ml per pot showed highest available nitrogen content (319.61kg/ha) of soil which was recorded non-significant results. The current study showed that the methanotrophs might be developed as bio-inoculants for rice farming, which would encourage plant development with little nitrogenous fertilizer inputs.