RICE 
30 pages
Published: 13 Aug 2026
Publication Code: 26-069
Author(s): Watts-Fawkes, S.
ISBN: 978-1-76053-643-5
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Australian rice growers face growing challenges from water shortages and higher irrigation costs. As a result, the industry needs new ways to maintain productivity. This AgriFutures Australia project examined whether beneficial soil fungi could help rice use water and nutrients more efficiently in aerobic, or non-flooded, production systems.
Researchers focused on arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi, which form natural partnerships with plant roots. These fungi may help crops access water and nutrients more effectively. Therefore, they could improve crop performance under drier conditions.
The team carried out two controlled-environment experiments using four Australian rice varieties: Reiziq, Topaz, Sherpa and Viand. In both studies, plants received different water and nutrient treatments. Researchers then compared plants inoculated with the AM fungus Rhizophagus irregularis with uninoculated plants. In the phosphorus study, AM fungi improved water-use efficiency in all varieties.
In addition, the fungi increased grain yield and phosphorus uptake efficiency in Topaz and Reiziq. These results suggest that AM fungi can benefit rice under some growing conditions. However, the nitrogen study showed no clear benefits from AM fungal inoculation. The fungi did not significantly affect grain yield, water-use efficiency or nitrogen uptake.
Overall, water availability had the strongest effect on crop performance. Although the results are encouraging, researchers do not yet recommend AM fungal inoculation for commercial use. Instead, they recommend further field trials to confirm the benefits under farm conditions.
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