Volume 11, Issue 23, January - June 2025

Effect of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi on physiological growth of maize in Northern Guinea Savanna soil

Ricwuskebnde AT¹, Angyu Micah Dantani^2♦, David Tsoken Maigida³

¹Department of Soil Science, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria
²Department of Soil Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Federal University Wukari, Nigeria
³Department of Crop Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Federal University of Agriculture Zuru, Kebbi state, Nigeria

^♦Corresponding author
Department of Soil Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Federal University Wukari, Nigeria

ABSTRACT

Many factors scale the effect of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) on crops’ growth with a possibility of negative impact under some growing conditions. The effect of phosphorus application rates and soil moisture regimes on mycorrhizal maize's physiological functions and growth was evaluated in this factorial study. Samples were either inoculated with AMF or not, supplied with 30, 60 or 90 kg P2O5 ha-1, and irrigated at 50% or 100% field capacity (FC). The maize variety used was SAMMAZ- 16. The plants were destructively sampled at 4 weeks after sowing (WAS), 8 WAS and 12 WAS during which per cent root colonization (determined only at 8 and 12 WAS), evapotranspiration, water use efficiency and biomass were determined. The determined data were subjected to analysis of variance and Duncan’s Multiple Range Test was used as a tool for means separation at α = 0.05. The results of the experiment showed that per cent root colonization by AMF in the inoculated pots was 62.22% at 8 WAS and 71.33% at 12 WAS. Under 100% FC, inoculated maize plants consistently achieved similar biomass production to non-inoculated plants that received 50% or higher P2O5. AMF inoculation tended to reduce the water use efficiency of the plants in low P2O5 application rates (30 and 60 kg P2O5 ha-1) and moisture regime (50% FC). It is therefore concluded that AMF inoculation can be deleterious to the productivity of SAMMAZ-16 when both phosphorus and soil water simultaneously limit the crop growth.

Keywords: Maize; Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi; Phosphorus application; soil water regime; Biomass accumulation; Water use efficiency

Discovery Agriculture, 2025, 11, e6da3107

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DOI: https://doi.org/10.54905/disssi.v11i23.e6da3107

Published: 09 April 2025