Organic Fertilizer Based on Rhizophagus intraradices: Valorization in a Farming Environment for Maize in the South, Center and North of Benin

Abstract

Maize plays an important role in agricultural production systems in all agro-ecological zones of Benin. Despite its importance, its production faces many constraints including soil fertility. One of the ecological technologies aimed at improving agricultural production is the use of soil microorganisms including arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF). This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of Rhizophagus intraradices, an indigenous strain, on maize productivity in farmers' areas in the Research and Development (RD) sites of the North (Ouénou), Center (Miniffi), and South (Zouzouvou). Three maize producers were selected at each RD site, for nine maize producers. The experimental design was a randomized complete block of three treatments with three replications. The different treatments were (i) Control–farmer's practice, (ii) R. intraradices + 50% of the recommended dose of NPK and urea, and (iii) 100% of the recommended dose of NPK and urea. Soil samples from the different RD sites were taken at a depth of 0–20 cm before sowing for chemical analysis. The different growth parameters (height, crown diameter, and leaf area), grain yield, and endomycorrhizal infection of maize plants were evaluated. The results showed that the soils were moderately acidic (5.5 ≤ pH waters ≤ 6.8) and low in organic matter (0.95 ≤ 33 OM ≤ 1.17) regardless of the study area. The greater maize grain yield was recorded with application of 100% of the recommended dose of NPK and urea, and R. intraradices + 50% of the recommended dose of NPK and urea. In the RD sites at the South, Center, and North recorded with R. intraradices + 50% of recommended dose of NPK and urea, the grain yields of 1.9, 3.4, and 1.74 t/ha with an increase of 28, 38.21, and 13.21%, respectively, compared with farmer's practice. Mycorrhization frequencies in plants treated with Ri¹ N15P15K15 vary between 37.44 and 51.67% in the three zones. The results of the current study have proven the potential use of R. intraradices in sustainable intensification of maize production in Benin.

Response of Biostimulants Based on Native Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi of the Glomeraceae on Maize Yield in a Farming Environment

“…This shows that the soils in our study were acidic. This result confirms those of Aguégué et al [32], who showed that the soils of northern Benin were moderately acidic and poor in organic matter. This water pH promotes the growth of fungi, which thrive best in acidic environments [23].…”

“…In addition, soil organic matter, assimilable phosphorus and exchangeable base contents were good for the experiment on the effects of NPK mineral fertilizers and agreed with those obtained by Aguégué et al [32] in northern Benin. Furthermore, these soils had a low level of fertility characterized by high C/N ratios.…”

“…In Benin, several studies have also been carried out, including those of Aguégué et al [32] on the effects of combining mineral fertilizers with a biological fertilizer based on Rhizophagus intraradices on a small-scale farming environment on maize production in the south, center and north of Benin. The study showed an improvement in the growth of maize plants and an increase in yields of 28%, 38.21% and 13.21%, respectively, in the south, center and north of Benin compared to the farmers' practice.…”

Interactive Effects of Plant Growth-Promoting Microbes and Nanoparticles on the Physiology, Growth, and Yield of Crops

“…In the last decade, great efforts have been made to substitute chemical fertilizers with environmentally friendly biostimulants (Kamilova et al, 2015;Liu et al, 2018;Thomas and Singh, 2019;Amogou et al, 2021). The response to microbial biostimulants inoculation on different crops has been widely evaluated, thus showing significant increase in the growth and yields of agricultural crops (Babalola et al, 2020;Agueǵuéet al, 2021b;Adoko et al, 2021a).…”

Effect of the application or coating of PGPR-based biostimulant on the growth, yield and nutritional status of maize in Benin

“…In the last decade, great efforts have been made to substitute chemical fertilizers with environmentally friendly biostimulants ( Kamilova et al., 2015 ; Liu et al., 2018 ; Thomas and Singh, 2019 ; Amogou et al., 2021 ). The response to microbial biostimulants inoculation on different crops has been widely evaluated, thus showing significant increase in the growth and yields of agricultural crops ( Babalola et al., 2020 ; Aguégué et al., 2021b ; Adoko et al., 2021a ).…”