Reduced nitrogen and phosphorus fertilization combined with mycorrhizal inoculation enhance potato yield and soil mineral fertility

Abstract

To improve sustainable agriculture it becomes crucial to minimize the use of chemical inputs and involve new practices that are more productive and healthier for humans and environment. Biofertilization with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), known for increasing the productivity of many crops including potatoes, could be considered as one of these sustainable practices. The purpose of this study was to determine whether mycorrhizal inoculation can minimize chemical fertilization for potato (Solanum tuberosum L.), one of the most demanding species in mineral elements. Thus, by studying the effect of chemical fertilization and mycorrhizal inoculant on potato yield and soil quality. Two doses of chemical fertilizer (NP) corresponding to 50 % and 100 % of the recommended dose has been applied in the presence or not of the mycorrhizal inoculant. The results have shown that adding arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in combination with 50 % of the chemical fertilizer dose gives the best effects. A significant increase in yield, root colonization, and P soil content has been observed (P < 0.001). Thus mycorrhizal inoculation could reduce the application of synthetic fertilizers and thus improve yield while preserving the environment.