Inoculant of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi (Rhizophagus clarus) Increase Yield of Soybean and Cotton under Field Conditions

Abstract

Nutrient availability is an important factor in crop production, and regular addition of chemical fertilizers is the most common practice to improve yield in agrosystems for intensive crop production. The use of some groups of microorganisms that have specific activity providing nutrients to plants is a good alternative, and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) enhance plant nutrition by providing especially phosphorus, improving plant growth and increasing crop production. Unfortunately, the use of AMF as an inoculant on a large scale is not yet widely used, because of several limitations in obtaining a large amount of inoculum due to several factors, such as low growth, the few species of AMF domesticated under in vitro conditions, and high competition with native AMF. The objective of this work was to test the infectivity of a Rhizophagus clarus inoculum and its effectiveness as an alternative for nutrient supply in soybean (Glycine max L.) and cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) when compared with conventional chemical fertilization under field conditions. The experiments were carried out in a completely randomized block design with five treatments: Fertilizer, AMF, AMF with Fertilizer, AMF with 1/2 Fertilizer, and the Control with non-inoculated and non-fertilized plants. The parameters evaluated were AMF root colonization and effect of inoculation on plant growth, nutrient absorption and yield. The results showed that AMF inoculation increased around 20 % of root colonization in both soybean and cotton; nutrients analyses in vegetal tissues showed increase of P and nitrogen content in inoculated plants, these results reflect in a higher yield. Our results showed that, AMF inoculation increase the effectiveness of fertilizer application in soybean and reduce the fertilizer dosage in cotton.

Varietal differences in the growth responses of rice to an arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus under natural upland conditions

“…The percentages of the root length colonized in non-inoculated controls and that of pre-colonized plants were 5.8 ± 1.2 and 16.8 ± 1.8, respectively, for Koshihikari, and 9.3 ± 1.2 and 23.5 ± 3.5, respectively, for ARC5955. Infection by indigenous AM fungi and yield increase by beneficial inoculum are in accord with the results of field experiments using alfalfa, 6 maize, 7 soybean and cotton 8 . Jeong et al.…”

Fungal inoculants in the field: Is the reward greater than the risk?

“…A spate of recent studies show an increase in plant biomass post inoculation (e.g. Camprubi, Zárate, Adholeya, Lovato, & Calvet, 2015;Cely et al, 2016;Hijri, 2016;Pellegrino et al, 2012;Tawaraya, Hirose, & Wagatsuma, 2012). Most of these studies, especially those evaluating multiple plant taxa, either show positive responses to inoculation (e.g.…”

Impact of Irrigation Strategies on Tomato Root Distribution and Rhizosphere Processes in an Organic System

“…Enhanced AM fungal colonization of organic tomatoes has been associated with high marketable yields, increased plant N and P concentrations, and improved water uptake capacity under SDI (Bowles et al, 2016). Given the benefits of AM fungi, promoting their contributions through management practices or increasing establishment of target AM fungi through inoculation may provide promising opportunities to improve yields and nutrient status of processing tomatoes in organic systems under SDI (Cely et al, 2016).…”