Impact of Combinations of Native Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi and Mineral Fertilizers on the Production and Nutrition of Maize Plants on Ferruginous Soil

Abstract In the current context of decline in soil fertility, soil degradation and climate change, the use of mycorrhizal inoculum is one of the alternatives for sustainable agriculture. This study aims to determine the best combination of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi (AMF) biostimulant and mineral fertilizer (NPK + Urea) to improve maize production and the nutritional status of maize plants on ferruginous soils. The experimental design was a completely randomized block of seventeen treatments repeated three times in Savè/Benin. Growth parameters were assessed at 60 days after sowing, while grain yield, physical characteristics and nutritional status were assessed after harvest. After a hierarchical classification of the results, we obtained a group of high-performing and statistically homogeneous treatments composed of T10 to T16. These treatments induced an average height of 185.81 ± 1.16 cm, a crown diameter of 2.20 ± 0.02 cm; a leaf area of 469.82 ± 2.11 cm2 and a grain yield of 2.98 ± 0.11 t/ha. Treatment T10 improved plant nutrition in terms of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium follow up T1 and T11. High 1000-grain weights were recorded with the treatments T10 and T11. The hardness of maize grain produced with the biostimulant decreased as root mycorrhization increased. It appears from the results that the application of the biostimulant based on arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi improved the parameters evaluated. In addition, the application of the biostimulant based on arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi improved the parameters evaluated. But this research deserves to be handled in the field in order to lead to an economic profitability study.