Optimization of hydroponic technology for production of mycorrhiza biofertilizer

Abstract

Mycorrhiza has been known could increase plants’ nutrient uptake through promoting root zone which resulted in higher yield production. A glasshouse experiment was conducted to optimize the technology for arbuscular mycorrhiza biofertilizer production through hydroponic system with automatic watering system and nutrient solution modification. Sorghum bicolor was used as host plants, grown for six weeks on medium contained mixture of zeolite and rice husk charcoal with the addition of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi inoculum. Different hydroponic techniques (Deep Flow and Ebb Flow) and phosphorus content in nutrient solutions (0, 20, 40, 80 ppm) were tested. Results showed that different types of hydroponic system and rates of P in nutrient solution gave significant differences in increasing mycorrhizal colonization in roots, number of mycorrhizal spores, P uptake and biomass of plants. The best hydroponic technique was Ebb Flow with P content 40 ppm which was 50% lower than the standard nutrient solution for hydroponic. These findings suggest that the production of mycorrhiza biofertilizer through optimization of nutrient solution and growing medium in hydroponic system was potential for future practice. This technology could be used for mass production of “clean” and good quality of mycorrhizal biofertilizer.