Synergistic effects of inoculating AMF and foliar iron fertilizer on growth and yield of broad bean under North Sinai conditions

Abstract

The experiment was run for two successive growing winter seasons during 2016-2018. The synergistic effects of Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) inoculation and foliar iron fertilizer on plant growth and yield parameters of broad bean plant (Vicia faba L.), grown in sandy loam soil, were conducted. Mycorrhizal colonization and their spore intensity, nodule formation and their number were also investigated. Two mycorrhizal treatments (Inoculum AMF and native AMF) and five foliar Fe-concentrations (0.0, 300, 400, 500 and 600 ppm) were applied. The interaction between different categories of AMF and foliar Fefertilization was also evaluated. The results obtained revealed that the application of inoculated AMF and spray with Fe at 400 ppm increased spore count and root colonization. However, total number of active nodules/plant increased with inoculated AMF and spraying iron at 600 ppm. Results indicated the superiority interaction treatment of inoculated AMF with the foliar Fe at the concentration of 400 ppm and/or 500 ppm by which it recorded the highest values of plant growth traits; viz, root length, number of branches/plant, total dry weight/plant and photosynthetic pigments content in both seasons. Moreover, the same treatment recorded the highest values with all pod characters and yield, except weight of number of green seeds/pod in first season and average pod weight (g) in the second one.

Contribution of Biofertilizers to Pulse Crops: From Single-Strain Inoculants to New Technologies Based on Microbiomes Strategies

“…In addition to the availability of P in the soil, micronutrients can improve the effect of broad bean inoculation with AMF. El-Mansy et al [ 148 ] reported the beneficial effect of Fe foliar fertilization (400–500 ppm) in a two-year field experiment in arid regions of Egypt, where reduced Fe availability is common due to alkaline pH. The addition of Fe addition increased AMF colonization, the native and inoculated number of AMF spores, and the number of active nodule number.…”