Improving Phosphorus Use through Co-inoculation of Vesicular Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi and Phosphate-Solubilizing Bacteria in Maize in an Acidic Alfisol

Abstract

Performance of three vesicular arbuscular mycorrhizal (VAM) fungi cultures and a phosphate-solubilizing bacteria (PSB) culture alone or in combination with or without 75% of the recommended P 2 O 5 dose based on soil-test crop response model was examined in maize in a phosphorus (P)-deficient acidic Alfisol in a glasshouse pot experiment. Sole application of VAM besides co-inoculation with PSB (Pseudomonas striata) and inorganic P stimulated mycorrhizal root colonization. Sole application of PSB, VAM T (Glomus intraradices), and VAM I (Glomus mosseae) as well as co-inoculation of VAM with PSB significantly improved crop productivity besides grain protein content, thus indicating a synergistic interaction between VAM and PSB. Application of VAM T or VAM I + PSB + 75% P 2 O 5 remained at par with sole application of 100% P 2 O 5 dose with regard to productivity, nutrient uptake, and soil fertility status (particularly P), thus indicating economization of fertilizer P to the tune of about 25% without compromising crop productivity and soil fertility in an acidic Alfisol.

Synergistic Phosphate Solubilization by Burkholderia anthina and Aspergillus awamori

“…Phosphate solubilizing microorganisms can enhance plant growth through several different mechanisms in addition to providing available phosphorus to plants (Mundra et al, 2011). Several researchers have reported that synergistic interaction between bacteria and fungi (Bras and Nahas, 2012;Suri et al, 2011). Suri et al (2011) observed synergistic interaction between Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi (AMF) and Phosphate-Solubilizing Bacteria when co-inoculated to Maize plant.…”

“…Several researchers have reported that synergistic interaction between bacteria and fungi (Bras and Nahas, 2012;Suri et al, 2011). Suri et al (2011) observed synergistic interaction between Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi (AMF) and Phosphate-Solubilizing Bacteria when co-inoculated to Maize plant.…”

Glycine–Glomus–Phosphate Solubilizing Bacteria Interactions Lead to Fertilizer Phosphorus Economy in Soybean in a Himalayan Acid Alfisol

“…Soybean root system also revealed the superiority of VAM T (Glomus intraradices) and VAM I (Glomus mosseae) cultures over the local VAM (Glomus mosseae) culture with respect to root infectivity in an acidic Alfisol. Coinoculation of VAM and phosphatesolubilizing bacteria (PSB) cultures further improved the root colonization in soybean, indicating that there exists a synergistic interaction between VAM and PSB (Sreenivasa and Krishnaraj 1992;Suri et al 2011a). Gryndler et al (1990) and Singh and Singh (1993) have also reported similar results in maize and soybean crops.…”

“…In this context, dual inoculation of VAM and PSB might be useful in reversing the process of P fixation in an acidic Alfisol (Suri et al 2006), as VAM will largely mobilize available P by increasing the surface area of roots and greater exploration of soil volume by its hyphal network, leading to greater nutrient-use efficiency (George et al 1992;Suri et al 2011b) and PSB will solubilize insoluble phosphates to some extent (Suri et al 2011a). In the light of these facts, a greenhouse pot experiment was conducted to study the GlycineGlomus-PSB interactions in soybean using a local PSB culture and three VAM cultures, individually and in combination with PSB.…”

“…Phosphorus solubilization might be useful for plant growth and it is particularly applicable to soybean, which requires adequate P supply for obtaining root nodule production and dinitrogen fixation (Mosse 1977). Vesicular arbuscular mycorrhizae (VAM) might be another useful low-cost farm technology in reversing the process of P fixation in acidic Alfisols of the northwestern Himalayas (Suri et al 2011a), thereby enhancing P supply to crops and leading to greater overall nutrient-use efficiency (George et al 1992). The present global agrarian scenario stresses tailoring ecofriendly low-cost nutrient management practices in view of current environmental and sustainability issues (Suri et al 2011a).…”