The attainment of the millennium for development objectives require to improve the productivity of major cultures like maize (Zea mays L.). The present study aimed to assess the potential of Glomus cubens, Rhizophagus intraradices and Funneliformis mosseae to improve the productivity of corn cultivated on reddish ferrous soil in Southern Benin. A block of nine treatments with four repetition completely randomized was installed. Plant height and diameter and leaf area are growth parameters measured. Grain yield and endomycorrhizal infection were also evaluated. The best growths and grain yield (2.33 t/ha and 2.12 t/ha) were obtained respectively with the plants treated with R. intraradices + 50% of NPK and G. cubens + 50% of NPK compared to the control plants (1.48 t/ha). Moreover, the great frequencies of mycorhization (44% and 32.25% were observed respectively on the plants treated with G. cubens + 50% of NPK and R. intraradices + 50% NPK. These results show that the respective combination of these two Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi with 50% NPK can increase of 50% the seeds yield of corn compared to the seeds yield obtained with the control plants. In addition, G. Cubens and R. intraradices are active in the colonization of maize roots. Use of R. Intraradices or G. cubens in combination with 50% of NPK help to increase the corn productivity and to reduce of half the chemical fertilizer commonly used by corn farmers at Southern Benin.

The application of Plant Growth Promoting rhizobacteria as a microbial bio-fertilizers to increase soil fertility and productivity, allows a rational use of chemical fertilizers which makes agriculture sustainable. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of the rhizobacteria Pseudomonas putida on the maize productivity in farmer environment. For this purpose, trials were conducted in two Agricultural Development Poles with nine (09) producers equitably distributed in Southern, Central and Northern Benin. The experimental design was a completely randomized block of three (03) treatments (T1: farmer practice; T2: P. putida + ½ recommended dose of NPK and Urea; T3: recommended dose of NPK and Urea) with three (03) repetitions. During sowing, two (2) maize seeds of the 2000 SYNEE-W variety were introduced into a pot and inoculated with 10 ml of bacterial suspensions of 108 CFU/ml concentration. The results showed that the best heights, stem diameters and leaf areas of maize plants were obtained with P. putida + ½ recommended dose of NPK and Urea with the nine (09) producers of the three (03) areas with respective increases of 14.76%; 18.08% and 26.56% compared to the farmer practice. In addition, the results related to yield parameters such as aerial biomass, underground biomass and maize grain yield were better improved with the P. putida + ½ recommended dose of NPK and Urea. The average rates of increase recorded were 42.70%, 38.96% and 77.69%, respectively, compared to farmer practice. In sum, this rhizobacteria can be used as the microbial bio-fertilizers to improve maize productivity in Benin.

The use of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi (AMF) is considered one of the effective organic ways to increase the crops productivity. The aim of this study was to evaluate the growth promoting effect of three mycorrhizal fungi (Glomus cubense, Rhizophagus intraradices and Funneliformis mosseae) on maize crops in a ferruginous soil of Northern Benin. Maize seeds were inoculated with mycorrhizal fungi in combination with or without minerals fertilizer. Study was conducted in a completely randomized block design with nine treatments and four replicates. The endomycorrhizal infection was evaluated on 68th days of sowing while the crop was harvested after 90 days. Results of study revealed that application of AMF have significant effect (p< 0.01) on the growth attributes and performance of maize. Compared to the control, maximum height (increases of 29%) was recorded in the plants treated with a complete dose of NPK, followed by the plant treated by F. mosseae combined with 50% NPK

The objective of the study was to evaluate the fertilizing potential of two arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (Glomeraceae and Acaulosporaceae) native to the rhizosphere soils of Benin in a controlled environment (under greenhouse) and in a field environment. For this purpose, corn seeds were coated with Glomeraceae and Acaulosporaceae strains and then deposited in 5 cm deep holes. Different doses of mineral fertilizer were then applied according to the treatments.The experimental design was a split plot of ten treatments with three replicates in both conditions. Sowing was done following two seeds per pot in the greenhouse and in the field and lasted 30 and 80 days respectively. The data collected were related to growth, yield and mycorrhizal infection of the roots. The results in controlled environment (under greenhouse), show that the plants treated with Acaulosporaceae+25%NPK+Urea significantly improve the height, the diameter at the collar, and the dry subterranean biomass with respective increases of 63.74%, 61.53%, 47.79% except for the leaf area and the dry aerial biomass which were improved by Glomeraceae+25%NPK+Urea with respective increases of 42.66% and 57.2% compared to the control. The results in the field showed that the best maize yields in grain, in dry aerial biomass and dry subterranean biomass were obtained significantly with the Glomeraceae strain 25%NPK+Urea with respective increases of 65.28%, 51.26%, 136.36% compared to the control plants. Also, high values were recorded for the frequency and intensity of mycorrhization with the Glomeraceae strain under greenhouse and field conditions. Mycorrhizal inoculation of maize plants showed a beneficial effect in the field with the Glomeraceae strain in combination with 25% NPK+Urea while the Acaulosporaceae strain with 25% NPK+Urea was more expressed in the greenhouse. These endogenous strains can be used as biostimulants to increase maize productivity while considerably reducing mineral inputs in Benin.

Maize plays an important role in agricultural production systems in all agro-ecological zones of Benin. Despite its importance, its production faces many constraints including soil fertility. One of the ecological technologies aimed at improving agricultural production is the use of soil microorganisms including arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF). This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of Rhizophagus intraradices, an indigenous strain, on maize productivity in farmers' areas in the Research and Development (RD) sites of the North (Ouénou), Center (Miniffi), and South (Zouzouvou). Three maize producers were selected at each RD site, for nine maize producers. The experimental design was a randomized complete block of three treatments with three replications. The different treatments were (i) Control–farmer's practice, (ii) R. intraradices + 50% of the recommended dose of NPK and urea, and (iii) 100% of the recommended dose of NPK and urea. Soil samples from the different RD sites were taken at a depth of 0–20 cm before sowing for chemical analysis. The different growth parameters (height, crown diameter, and leaf area), grain yield, and endomycorrhizal infection of maize plants were evaluated. The results showed that the soils were moderately acidic (5.5 ≤ pH waters ≤ 6.8) and low in organic matter (0.95 ≤ 33 OM ≤ 1.17) regardless of the study area. The greater maize grain yield was recorded with application of 100% of the recommended dose of NPK and urea, and R. intraradices + 50% of the recommended dose of NPK and urea. In the RD sites at the South, Center, and North recorded with R. intraradices + 50% of recommended dose of NPK and urea, the grain yields of 1.9, 3.4, and 1.74 t/ha with an increase of 28, 38.21, and 13.21%, respectively, compared with farmer's practice. Mycorrhization frequencies in plants treated with Ri¹ N15P15K15 vary between 37.44 and 51.67% in the three zones. The results of the current study have proven the potential use of R. intraradices in sustainable intensification of maize production in Benin.