The application of biostimulants in agriculture represents an environmentally friendly alternative while increasing agricultural production. The aims of the study were to develop solid biostimulants based on five rhizobacteria native to Benin's soils and to evaluate their efficacy on the growth and biomass yield of maize under greenhouse conditions on ferrallitic and ferruginous soils. Clay and peat were used as a conservation binder for the preparation of the biostimulants. These binders were used alone or combined in the different formulations with maize flour and sucrose. 10 g of biostimulants were applied at sowing in pots containing five kilograms of sterilised soil. The experimental design was a completely randomised block of 24 treatments with three replicates. The results obtained showed significant improvements (P < 0.001) in height (49.49%), stem diameter (32.7%), leaf area (66.10%), above-ground biomass (97.12%) and below-ground biomass (53.
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.
The objective of our study was to evaluate the promoted effects of three arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) on maize growth and yield on ferruginous soil in center of Benin. The maize variety used was EVDT 97 STR C1. The maize seeds were inoculated with each of three arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (Glomus intraradices, Funneliformis mosseae and Rhizophagus cubens) combined with or not to mineral fertilizer dose recommended (50% of NPK). The experimental device was a completely randomized random block of nine treatments with four repetitions. The data collected were related to growth (height, diameter and leaf area), yield (biomass and grain yield), mycorrhization (frequency, intensity and number of spores) and NPK content. The maximum height, best seeds yield and larger leaf surface are obtained with maize plants treated with R. intraradices combined with 50% of NPK respectively surpassing of 17.44%, 38.14%, 45.99% the values obtained with the controls plants. G. cubens combined with 50% of NPK was induced an increase of diameter (6.50%), dry aerial biomass (32.86%) and dry ground biomass (94.73%) compared to the control. G. cubens only has led to the best frequency (41.25%), intensity of mycorrhization (6.07%) and a high number of spore (1.81 spores/g soil). These results show the potential of these arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi to improve the maize productivity on ferruginous soil in center of Benin.Contribution/Originality: The paper's primary contribution is finding that mycorrhizal inoculation increase maize productivity by reducing the use of mineral fertilizer.
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