Effect of an Organic Fertilizer Based on Native Rhizophagus intraradices on Zea mays L. Yield in Northern Benin
Abdel D. Koda
Laboratoire de Biologie et de Typage Moléculaire en Microbiologie, Département de Biochimie et de Biologie Cellulaire, Faculté des Sciences et Techniques, Université d’Abomey Calavi, 05 BP 1604 Cotonou, Bénin.
Alain S. Yaoitcha
Centre de Recherches Agricoles Plantes Pérennes (CRA-PP)/Institut National des Recherches Agricoles du Bénin (INRAB), Bénin.
Marcellin Allagbe
Centre de Recherches Agricoles Sud, Institut National des Recherches Agricoles du Benin, BP 884 Attogon, Benin.
Nadège A. Agbodjato
Laboratoire de Biologie et de Typage Moléculaire en Microbiologie, Département de Biochimie et de Biologie Cellulaire, Faculté des Sciences et Techniques, Université d’Abomey Calavi, 05 BP 1604 Cotonou, Bénin.
Gustave Dagbenonbakin
Centre de Recherches Agricoles Sud, Institut National des Recherches Agricoles du Benin, BP 884 Attogon, Benin.
Mèvognon R. Aguegue
Laboratoire de Biologie et de Typage Moléculaire en Microbiologie, Département de Biochimie et de Biologie Cellulaire, Faculté des Sciences et Techniques, Université d’Abomey Calavi, 05 BP 1604 Cotonou, Bénin.
Ramon Rivera
Departamento de Biofertilizantes y Nutrición de las Plantas, Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Agrícolas, Cuba.
Adolphe Adjanohoun
Centre de Recherches Agricoles Sud, Institut National des Recherches Agricoles du Benin, BP 884 Attogon, Benin.
Lamine Baba-Moussa *
Laboratoire de Biologie et de Typage Moléculaire en Microbiologie, Département de Biochimie et de Biologie Cellulaire, Faculté des Sciences et Techniques, Université d’Abomey Calavi, 05 BP 1604 Cotonou, Bénin.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Aims: One of the alternatives proposed to improve the sustainability and productivity of agricultural systems is the use of organic fertilizers based on arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi. The objective of the study was to evaluate the effectiveness of the native mycorrhizal fungus Rhizophagus intraradices in the field at Ouenou in North Benin for improved maize (Zea mays L.) production.
Study Design: The experimental design was a complete random block of three treatments. Mention the design of the study here.
Place and Duration of Study: Endomycorrhizal infection was assessed on roots of corn plants at 78 days post-seed.
Methodology: Corn variety 2000 SYN EE-W was inoculated with the strain in combination with the mineral fertilizer (NPK) half-dose.
Results: Results showed that of the three treatments, the highest heights were observed in plants treated with Rhizophagus intraradices +½ dose of NPK (15:15:15) and urea. The same observations were made with respect to leaf number and leaf area of plants and grain yield. Regarding the endomycorrhizal infection of plants inoculated with Rhizophagus intraradices +½ dose of NPK (15:15:15) and urea, of the three producers, the observation was that the endomycorrhizal infection was elevated to the level of the second producer (P2) which was of the order of (50%) while the mycorrhizal intensity was lower (24.6%) in the same producer.
Conclusion: The native mycorrhizal fungus R. intraradices plus the half-dose NPK plus urea, had a positive impact on most of the various parameters.
Keywords: Mycorrhizal fungus, native, R. intraradices, Zea mays L., organic fertilizers.