Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fertilization Of Corn (Zea mays L.) Cultivated on Ferrous Soil in Southern Benin

Abstract

Theattainmentofthemillenniumfordevelopmentobjectives require toimprove the productivityofmajorcultures like maize(ZeamaysL.).Thepresentstudy aimedto assess the potentialofGlomuscubens,Rhizophagusintraradicesand Funneliformismosseaeto improvetheproductivityof corn cultivatedon reddish ferrous soilinSouthern Benin.Ablock of nine treatments with four repetition completely randomized was installed¶.Plant height anddiameterandleaf area are growth parameters measured. Grain yield and endomycorrhizal infection were also evaluated.Thebestgrowthsandgrain yield (2.33t/haand2.12t/ha)were obtainedrespectivelywiththe plantstreatedwithR.intraradices+50%ofNPKandG.cubens+50% of NPKcompared tothecontrol plants(1.48t/ha).Moreover,thegreatfrequenciesofmycorhization(44% and32.25% were observedrespectivelyonthe plants treated with G.cubens + 50% of NPKandR.intraradices +50% NPK.Theseresultsshowthatthe respectivecombinationofthesetwoArbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungiwith 50%NPKcanincrease of 50%theseeds yield of corncompared tothe seeds yield obtained with the control plants.In addition,G.Cubens and R.intraradicesare active in the colonization of maize roots.Use ofR.Intraradices orG.cubensincombinationwith 50% ofNPKhelpto increasethe corn productivityand to reduce of half the chemical fertilizer commonly used by corn farmers at Southern Benin.