Abstract:
A consortium of cellulolytic microbes (CCM) isolated from paddy fields were developed to
degrade rice straw in the field. Under green house conditions, paddy plants grown in soil
incorporated with the consortium cellulolytic microbes and straw for eight weeks showed
significant (P ≤ 0.05) increases in total dry weight, biomass, stem length and seed weight
compared to controls, suggesting the CCM to be effective in degrading the paddy straw and
improving paddy growth. Laboratory phytotoxicity study showed a germination index of 116.7%
indicating the CCM to be harmless to plants and suggesting it to be phytonutrient-phytostimulant
