Chapter 9
Plant Growth-Promoting Rhizobacteria
(PGPR) and Compost Materials
for AeroHydro Culture
Sarjiya Antonius, Dwi Agustiyani, Tirta Kumala Dewi, Nur Laili, and
Mitsuru Osaki
Abstract Recently, the development of science and technology for understanding
the function and use of microbes in the field of agriculture is increasing rapidly. The
ability of microbes to adapt and capture the signals of environmental conditions,
followed by genetic changes and the function of cell metabolism can be used as a
model in optimizing microbial utilization. The beneficial microbes living in the
rhizosphere are usually grouped as plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR)
and degrading agents microbes of agricultural waste or commonly called decomposers. Both groups of microbes are very important to support plant growth,
especially in unfavorable environmental conditions. PGPR are beneficial
rhizobacteria that enhance plant growth as well as its productivity with various
mechanisms. The interaction of PGPR with host plants is an intricate and
interdependent relationship involving not only the two partners but other biotic
and abiotic factors of the rhizosphere region. The ability of inoculated bacteria to
survive, outcompete with the native microflora, and colonize in the rhizosphere is a
critical step for a successful application, especially in extreme conditions. The
concept of biological and biochemical processes that is mutually beneficial between
bacteria and plants can be used to overcome the environmental problems that are not
suitable for plant growth, and finally, plants can grow and produce yield optimally,
for example, in the peatland ecosystem.
However, it has been difficult to inoculate PGPR and to maintain the root PGPR
symbiotic system in field conditions, although sometimes it was a successful process
in laboratory conditions. To avoid this inoculation deficit, an “Integrated PGPR
Culture System” called AeroHydro Culture has been developed. In this chapter, the
stabilization of PGPR function will focus on how to achieve supplying nutrients,
S. Antonius (*) · D. Agustiyani · T. K. Dewi · N. Laili
Research Center for Biology, Indonesian Institute of Sciences, Cibinong Science Center,
Cibinong, Indonesia
e-mail: sarjiya.antonius@lipi.go.id
M. Osaki
Hokkaido University, Research Faculty of Agriculture, Sapporo, Japan
© The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd. 2021
M. Osaki et al. (eds.), Tropical Peatland Eco-management,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-33-4654-3_9
301
Plant Growth-Promoting Rhizobacteria
(PGPR) and Compost Materials
for AeroHydro Culture
Sarjiya Antonius, Dwi Agustiyani, Tirta Kumala Dewi, Nur Laili, and
Mitsuru Osaki
Abstract Recently, the development of science and technology for understanding
the function and use of microbes in the field of agriculture is increasing rapidly. The
ability of microbes to adapt and capture the signals of environmental conditions,
followed by genetic changes and the function of cell metabolism can be used as a
model in optimizing microbial utilization. The beneficial microbes living in the
rhizosphere are usually grouped as plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR)
and degrading agents microbes of agricultural waste or commonly called decomposers. Both groups of microbes are very important to support plant growth,
especially in unfavorable environmental conditions. PGPR are beneficial
rhizobacteria that enhance plant growth as well as its productivity with various
mechanisms. The interaction of PGPR with host plants is an intricate and
interdependent relationship involving not only the two partners but other biotic
and abiotic factors of the rhizosphere region. The ability of inoculated bacteria to
survive, outcompete with the native microflora, and colonize in the rhizosphere is a
critical step for a successful application, especially in extreme conditions. The
concept of biological and biochemical processes that is mutually beneficial between
bacteria and plants can be used to overcome the environmental problems that are not
suitable for plant growth, and finally, plants can grow and produce yield optimally,
for example, in the peatland ecosystem.
However, it has been difficult to inoculate PGPR and to maintain the root PGPR
symbiotic system in field conditions, although sometimes it was a successful process
in laboratory conditions. To avoid this inoculation deficit, an “Integrated PGPR
Culture System” called AeroHydro Culture has been developed. In this chapter, the
stabilization of PGPR function will focus on how to achieve supplying nutrients,
S. Antonius (*) · D. Agustiyani · T. K. Dewi · N. Laili
Research Center for Biology, Indonesian Institute of Sciences, Cibinong Science Center,
Cibinong, Indonesia
e-mail: sarjiya.antonius@lipi.go.id
M. Osaki
Hokkaido University, Research Faculty of Agriculture, Sapporo, Japan
© The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd. 2021
M. Osaki et al. (eds.), Tropical Peatland Eco-management,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-33-4654-3_9
301