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 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.

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