Vegetative growth and yield response of Amaranthus hybridus to mycorrhizal fungi (Glomus mosseae) inoculation, organic and micronutrient fertilizer application

Abstract

This study was carried out at the Faculty of Agriculture Teaching and Research farm, University of Benin during the early planting season in April 2016 to evaluate the growth response of Amaranthus hybridus and some soil physical and chemical properties as influenced by organic and micronutrient fertilizers, mycorrhizal inoculum. In this experiment four treatments (poultry manure + cow dung + pig manure (PCP), poultry manure + mycorrhiza (Pm), poultry manure + mycorrhiza + foliar blend (PmMF) and control (C) were replicated four times and arranged in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) in a plot size of 70m2 . Soil samples were taken prior and after the trial at a 0-15cm depth for analysis. Results revealed that the soil (sand, silt and clay) and the textural class remained the same (loamy sand) and the micronutrient had no significant effect on the treated plots; however, all the treatments showed a significant increase in the soil pH, organic carbon, organic matter, NPK and Mg and a slight decrease in Ca and Na when compared to the pre-trial soil indicating an increase in residual soil nutrient status. Nutrient content N, P, K, plant height (51.13cm), number of leaves (67.80), stem girth (5.61cm), leaf area (194.87cm2 ) and yield (7.51 t/ ha) were significantly higher in plots treated with PM when compared to other treatments PMF, PCP and control in that order, with control having the lowest values of plant height (19.13 cm), number of leaves (26.00) stem girth (2.80 cm) leaf area (57.76 cm2 ) and yield (0.80 t/ha). Also, significantly higher spores, root arbuscules, root vesicle and root hyphae were recorded in PM (66.20,13.60,9.80,13.40) and PMF (74.40,10.50,11.10,10.50) treatment when compared to other treatments PCP and control.