Efficiency of a novel endophytic fungus based Biofertilizer in enhancing rice productivity and reducing the chemical fertilizer use in saline and non-saline coastal regions of Bangladesh

Efficiency of a novel endophytic fungus based Biofertilizer in enhancing rice productivity and reducing the chemical fertilizer use in saline and non-saline coastal regions of Bangladesh | Research Square window.SnipcartSettings = { analytics: { enabled: false } }; (function() { var accessVector = localStorage.getItem('access_vector') || ''; window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; if (accessVector) { window.dataLayer.push({ user: { profile: { profileInfo: { snid: accessVector } } } }); } })(); (function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start':new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src='https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f);})(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-K279D39R'); Browse Preprints In Review Journals COVID-19 Preprints AJE Video Bytes Research Tools Research Promotion AJE Professional Editing AJE Rubriq About Preprint Platform In Review Editorial Policies Our Team Advisory Board Help Center Sign In Submit a Preprint Cite Share Download PDF Research Article Efficiency of a novel endophytic fungus based Biofertilizer in enhancing rice productivity and reducing the chemical fertilizer use in saline and non-saline coastal regions of Bangladesh Amit Chowdhury, Jayanta Bhattacharya, Md. Iyasir Arafat, Habibul Bari Shozib, and 4 more This is a preprint; it has not been peer reviewed by a journal. https://doi.org/ 10.21203/rs.3.rs-8587924/v1 This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License Status: Under Revision Version 1 posted 13 You are reading this latest preprint version Abstract Background Enhanced soil salinity is a major constraint to rice production in the coastal regions of Bangladesh. Salinity stress impairs nutrient uptake and induces ionic toxicity and osmotic stress, while excessive use of chemical fertilizers degrades soil health and causes environmental pollution. A novel salt-tolerant endophytic fungus, Aspergillus welwitschiae Oc streb1, isolated from the halophytic wild rice Oryza coarctata, exhibited multiple plant growth–promoting traits under both non-saline and 900 mM salt-stress conditions in vitro. These findings suggest that Ocstreb1-based biofertilizer could serve as an eco-friendly and cost-effective alternative to enhance rice productivity under saline conditions. Methods In this experiment, the biofertilizer was prepared using fungal spores produced on wheat bran and subsequently mixed with talcum powder as a carrier. Field trials were conducted following a randomized complete block design (RCBD), incorporating different levels of chemical fertilizer application (0%, 80%, and 100% of the BRRI-recommended NPKSZn rates) in both biofertilizer-treated and untreated plants. Results Compared with the 100% chemical fertilizer treatment, the combined application of biofertilizer and 80% chemical fertilizer resulted in a comparable yield in Barguna and an increased yield of 196.6 kg ha⁻¹ in Satkhira. Profitability analysis showed that this treatment provided an additional economic benefit of USD 48–68 ha⁻¹ over the 100% chemical fertilizer treatment. Moreover, fumonisin B1 levels in grains from biofertilizer-treated plants were negligible. Conclusion In conclusion, commercial production of this Biofertilizer will pave the way for enhancing rice yield with less chemical fertilizer use and ensuring sustainable agricultural practice particularly in areas affected by salinity stress. Salinity Rice Endophytic fungus Biofertilizer Chemical fertilizer Yield Profitability Full Text Additional Declarations No competing interests reported. Cite Share Download PDF Status: Under Revision Version 1 posted Editorial decision: Revision requested 07 Apr, 2026 Reviews received at journal 01 Mar, 2026 Reviews received at journal 01 Mar, 2026 Reviewers agreed at journal 22 Feb, 2026 Reviewers agreed at journal 19 Feb, 2026 Reviews received at journal 19 Feb, 2026 Reviewers agreed at journal 19 Feb, 2026 Reviewers agreed at journal 10 Feb, 2026 Reviewers invited by journal 10 Feb, 2026 Editor invited by journal 02 Feb, 2026 Editor assigned by journal 22 Jan, 2026 Submission checks completed at journal 22 Jan, 2026 First submitted to journal 22 Jan, 2026 You are reading this latest preprint version Research Square lets you share your work early, gain feedback from the community, and start making changes to your manuscript prior to peer review in a journal. As a division of Research Square Company, we’re committed to making research communication faster, fairer, and more useful. We do this by developing innovative software and high quality services for the global research community. Our growing team is made up of researchers and industry professionals working together to solve the most critical problems facing scientific publishing. Also discoverable on Platform About Our Team In Review Editorial Policies Advisory Board Help Center Resources Author Services Accessibility API Access RSS feed Manage Cookie Preferences © Research Square 2026 | ISSN 2693-5015 (online) Privacy Policy Terms of Service Do Not Sell My Personal Information {"props":{"pageProps":{"initialData":{"identity":"rs-8587924","acceptedTermsAndConditions":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"archivedVersions":[],"articleType":"Research Article","associatedPublications":[],"authors":[{"id":589329712,"identity":"606ed956-0346-4749-8f9a-5582022f1ffa","order_by":0,"name":"Amit Chowdhury","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"University of Dhaka","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Amit","middleName":"","lastName":"Chowdhury","suffix":""},{"id":589329713,"identity":"2758ea67-b432-419d-81ca-03fce0b0d3ef","order_by":1,"name":"Jayanta Bhattacharya","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"International Rice Research Institute","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Jayanta","middleName":"","lastName":"Bhattacharya","suffix":""},{"id":589329714,"identity":"ac754ab4-6144-4f55-a352-55e5273b8471","order_by":2,"name":"Md. 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Salinity stress impairs nutrient uptake and induces ionic toxicity and osmotic stress, while excessive use of chemical fertilizers degrades soil health and causes environmental pollution. A novel salt-tolerant endophytic fungus, \u003cem\u003eAspergillus welwitschiae Oc\u003c/em\u003estreb1, isolated from the halophytic wild rice Oryza coarctata, exhibited multiple plant growth\u0026ndash;promoting traits under both non-saline and 900 mM salt-stress conditions in vitro. These findings suggest that Ocstreb1-based biofertilizer could serve as an eco-friendly and cost-effective alternative to enhance rice productivity under saline conditions.\u003c/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eMethods\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eIn this experiment, the biofertilizer was prepared using fungal spores produced on wheat bran and subsequently mixed with talcum powder as a carrier. Field trials were conducted following a randomized complete block design (RCBD), incorporating different levels of chemical fertilizer application (0%, 80%, and 100% of the BRRI-recommended NPKSZn rates) in both biofertilizer-treated and untreated plants.\u003c/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eResults\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eCompared with the 100% chemical fertilizer treatment, the combined application of biofertilizer and 80% chemical fertilizer resulted in a comparable yield in Barguna and an increased yield of 196.6 kg ha⁻\u0026sup1; in Satkhira. Profitability analysis showed that this treatment provided an additional economic benefit of USD 48\u0026ndash;68 ha⁻\u0026sup1; over the 100% chemical fertilizer treatment. Moreover, fumonisin B1 levels in grains from biofertilizer-treated plants were negligible.\u003c/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eConclusion\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eIn conclusion, commercial production of this Biofertilizer will pave the way for enhancing rice yield with less chemical fertilizer use and ensuring sustainable agricultural practice particularly in areas affected by salinity stress.\u003c/p\u003e","manuscriptTitle":"Efficiency of a novel endophytic fungus based Biofertilizer in enhancing rice productivity and reducing the chemical fertilizer use in saline and non-saline coastal regions of Bangladesh","msid":"","msnumber":"","nonDraftVersions":[{"code":1,"date":"2026-02-13 19:28:30","doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-8587924/v1","editorialEvents":[{"type":"communityComments","content":0},{"type":"decision","content":"Revision requested","date":"2026-04-07T07:29:41+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"editorInvitedReview","content":"","date":"2026-03-01T10:26:36+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"editorInvitedReview","content":"","date":"2026-03-01T07:01:00+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"reviewerAgreed","content":"187604824006005870031835847080155180823","date":"2026-02-23T03:59:33+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"reviewerAgreed","content":"227001598536214766476887580306301773377","date":"2026-02-19T18:38:59+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"editorInvitedReview","content":"","date":"2026-02-19T16:14:52+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"reviewerAgreed","content":"326563242010928705542444135813395820408","date":"2026-02-19T11:40:46+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"reviewerAgreed","content":"237652441444754651414688771680096912220","date":"2026-02-11T03:46:28+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"reviewersInvited","content":"","date":"2026-02-10T06:50:04+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"editorInvited","content":"","date":"2026-02-02T10:06:49+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"editorAssigned","content":"","date":"2026-01-22T10:37:59+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"checksComplete","content":"","date":"2026-01-22T09:17:48+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"submitted","content":"Discover Agriculture","date":"2026-01-22T08:46:35+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""}],"status":"published","journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"discover-agriculture","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"externalIdentity":"","sideBox":"Learn more about [Discover Agriculture](https://www.springer.com/journal/44279)","snPcode":"44279","submissionUrl":"https://submission.nature.com/new-submission/44279/3","title":"Discover Agriculture","twitterHandle":"","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":true,"editorialSystem":"stoa","reportingPortfolio":"Discover Series","inReviewEnabled":true,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":true}}],"origin":"","ownerIdentity":"f2c94157-dcd6-4547-a8fc-bd3d77041aa5","owner":[],"postedDate":"February 13th, 2026","published":true,"recentEditorialEvents":[],"rejectedJournal":[],"revision":"","amendment":"","status":"in-revision","subjectAreas":[],"tags":[],"updatedAt":"2026-05-15T09:19:06+00:00","versionOfRecord":[],"versionCreatedAt":"2026-02-13 19:28:30","video":"","vorDoi":"","vorDoiUrl":"","workflowStages":[]},"version":"v1","identity":"rs-8587924","journalConfig":"researchsquare"},"__N_SSP":true},"page":"/article/[identity]/[[...version]]","query":{"redirect":"/article/rs-8587924","identity":"rs-8587924","version":["v1"]},"buildId":"XKTyCvWXoU3ODBz1xrDgd","isFallback":false,"isExperimentalCompile":false,"dynamicIds":[84888],"gssp":true,"scriptLoader":[]}