The Influence of Biochar, Organic and Inorganic Fertilizers, and Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi Inoculation on Maize Crop Performance Under Normal and Water‐Stressed Conditions

Abstract

Water scarcity limits the amount of maize that can be produced in Ethiopia and around the world. This study was aimed to investigate the effects of amendment application and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) inoculation on maize growth and biomass yield in a greenhouse under both normal and water‐stressed conditions. Biochar, organic matter, and blended inorganic fertilizer (NPSB) were added as amendments. Inoculation of Gigaspora rosea and Rhizophagus clarus with the application of NPSB under normal watering has resulted in maximum heights of 96.7 and 115.0 cm, respectively. When they were subjected to water stress, their maximum heights were 65.7 and 68.01 cm. The leaf number in NPSB fertilization under regular watering was 13.3, comparable to 13.7 in R. clarus + OM and R. clarus + biochar + OM + NPSB. Under normal watering, G. rosea + NPSB and R. clarus + NPSB demonstrated the highest aboveground biomass yields of 57.7 and 47.8 g, respectively. In comparison to the control, G. rosea and R. clarus + NPSB demonstrated the highest yields of 52.9 and 42.8 g. The treatments involving G. rosea + biochar + OM + NPSB and R. clarus + biochar + OM + NPSB exhibited a greater leaf area index of 31.42 and 26.8, respectively. The treatments that were inoculated with G. rosea also showed improvements in root colonization and spore density. The study’s findings showed that both a single and a combination AMF inoculation improved every growth parameter that was looked at. To find out how well native AMF can boost maize plant yield in both normal and water‐stressed environments, more research is necessary.