Anis Fahri^1,3, Mariani Br. Sembiring², Setia Sari Girsang^3*, Etty Pratiwi³, Erny Yuniarti⁴, Ana Feronika Cindra Irawati⁵, T. Sabrina^2*

¹Doctoral Program in Agricultural Sciences, University of North Sumatra, Medan, Indonesia

²Faculty of Agriculture, University of North Sumatra, Medan, Indonesia

³Research Center for Food Crops, National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), Cibinong, Bogor, Indonesia

⁴Research Center for Horticulture, National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), Cibinong, Bogor, Indonesia

⁵Research Center for Applied Microbiology, National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), Cibinong, Bogor, Indonesia

 

*Corresponding author’s email: t.sabrina@usu.ac.id; seti011@brin.go.id

Received: 03 October 2025 / Revised: 16 February 2026 / Accepted: 28 February 2026 / Published Online: 12 March 2026

 

Abstract

 

Rice, the staple for nearly half the world’s population, faces production limits in tidal swamp soils due to zinc (Zn) deficiency. This study isolated Zn-solubilizing bacteria from Riau Province tidal rice fields, Indonesia, to enhance soil Zn availability and rice seedling vigour. Twelve isolates showed Zn solubilization, with PS5 achieving 109.68 mg/L efficiency and a vigour index of 1.76475; they also displayed plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) traits like nitrogen fixation, phosphate/potassium solubilization, indole-3-acetic acid production, and organic acid secretion. 16S rDNA analysis identified top strains as Acinetobacter sp. BHS4 and Bacillus safensis P5.4, positioning them as bioinoculants to combat Zn deficiency and lower chemical fertilizer needs in tidal rice systems.

 

Keywords: Biofertilizer, Rice vigour, PGPR, Tidal soils, Zinc solubilization

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