Effect of Inoculation with Glomeromycota Fungi and Fertilization on Maize Yield in Acid Soils

Food insecurity in Sub - Saharan Africa (SSA) is on the rise due to soil fertility depletion and in Kenya, Nitrogen (N) is one of the widely deficient nutrients. Biological nitrogen fixation (BNF) can replenish N into the soil system. A study was carried out in acid soils at Koyonzo and Ligala sites of western Kenya to determine the effectiveness of different inoculants after agricultural lime application in enhancing BNF and yields of groundnuts (Arachis hypogea L.) and maize (Zea mays L.) intercrop. Red Valencia groundnut variety was intercropped with Hybrid 513D maize variety. A6w, W1w and V2w indigenous rhizobia strains were tested alongside a commercial rhizobia strain called biofix. Nitrogen treatment was included as a positive control. The results showed that inoculation significantly increased nodule number and weight per plant. There were significant differences among indigenous rhizobia in fixing N. Rhizobia inoculation accounted for 58.91% and 78.95% increase in the amount of N fixed above the control at Koyonzo and Ligala respectively. The strain that fixed the highest amount of N was A6w followed by V2w and W1w at both sites under the dolomitic soil amendment with the values of 14.67, 9.56, 3.53 and 11.37, 8.20 and 1.50 kg N ha-1, respectively at Koyonzo and Ligala sites. Rhizobia inoculation accounted for 80.96% and 47.09% maize yield increase at Koyonzo and Ligala respectively. The best inoculant A6w, gave maize yields of 3.76 and 2.78 t ha-1 at Koyonzo and Ligala, respectively. In conclusion soil amendment with dolomitic lime and inoculating groundnuts with rhizobia strain A6w resulted in increased groundnut and maize yields. This practice can, therefore, be adopted by farmers in western Kenya to improve the productivity of the groundnut maize intercropping systems.

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Rapid screening for aluminum tolerance in maize (Zea mays L.)

Genetics and Molecular Biology ◽

10.1590/s1415-47572000000400024 ◽

2000 ◽

Vol 23 (4) ◽

pp. 847-850 ◽

Cited By ~ 10

Author(s):

Carlos Daniel Giaveno ◽

José B. Miranda Filho

Keyword(s):

Aluminum Toxicity ◽

Aluminum Tolerance ◽

Acid Soils ◽

Maize Yield ◽

Rapid Screening ◽

Intense Staining ◽

Tropical Regions ◽

Tolerant Plants ◽

Hematoxylin Staining ◽

Two Populations

A significant decrease in maize grain yield due to aluminum toxicity is considered to be one of the most important agricultural problems for tropical regions. Genetic improvement is a useful approach to increase maize yield in acid soils, but this requires a rapid and reliable method to discriminate between genotypes. In our work we investigated the feasibility of using hematoxylin staining (HS) to detect Al-tolerant plants at the seedling stage. The original population along with two populations obtained after one cycle of divergent selection were evaluated by net root growth (NRG) and HS after 7 days in nutrient solution. Results showed a negative correlation between NRG and HS in all populations, in which sensitive plants, characterized by low NRG, exhibited more intense staining than tolerant plants. These results indicate that HS is a useful procedure for selecting Al-tolerant maize seedlings.

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The Effect of Composting Campus Litter Granules and Inorganic Fertilizers on the Improvement of Soil Physical Properties and Corn Yield (Zea mays L.) In Inceptisol

Agrologia ◽

10.30598/ajibt.v10i2.1429 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 10 (2) ◽

Author(s):

Maimuna La Habi ◽

A.Marthin Kalay

Keyword(s):

Physical Properties ◽

Block Design ◽

Organic Fertilizer ◽

Acid Soils ◽

Maize Yield ◽

Soil Physical Properties ◽

Inorganic Fertilizer ◽

Corn Yield ◽

Inorganic Fertilizers ◽

Volume Weight

The addition of organic matter is done to overcome the problems that occur in acid soils such as inceptisols. The aim of the research was to develop organic fertilizer enriched in granular form from campus litter compost to improve soil physical properties and maize yield in Inceptisols. The treatments consisted of: no fertilizer (KGSK1), 8 t ha-1 granule compost (KGSK2), inorganic fertilizer (Urea, SP-36, and KCl) recommended dose (KGSK3), inorganic fertilizer + 8 t ha- granule compost (KGSK4 ), x dose of inorganic fertilizer + compost granule (8 t ha-1) (KGSK5), 2 times dose of inorganic fertilizer + compost granule 8 t ha-1 (KGSK6), x dose of inorganic fertilizer + compost granule 12 t ha- 1 (KGSK7) and 2 times the dose of inorganic fertilizer + compost 4 t ha (KGSK8). The study was designed using a randomized block design with three replications. The results of the study found that the provision of enriched campus litter granules, either applied singly or in combination with inorganic fertilizers, had a significant effect on improving soil physical properties, namely soil volume weight, soil specific gravity, soil porosity, fast drainage pores, slow drainage pores, water pores. available, and unavailable pore water were 0.90 g cm-3, 2.30 g cm-3, 7.77%, 23.54%, 8.83%, 11.62%, and 249.17%, and the yield of dry shelled corn was 7.85 tons ha- 1.Keywords: Granular compost, Corn, Inceptisol, inorganic fertilizer

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Correlating aluminium toxicity, heterosis and epigenetic mechanisms in maize yield improvement in acid soils

Biotechnology and Molecular Biology Reviews ◽

10.5897/bmbr2014-0234 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 10 (2) ◽

pp. 12-18 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Josphert

Keyword(s):

Acid Soils ◽

Maize Yield ◽

Aluminium Toxicity ◽

Epigenetic Mechanisms ◽

Yield Improvement

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Effectiveness of Direct Application of Phosphate Rock in Upland Acid Inceptisols Soils on Available-P and Maize Yield

Journal of Tropical Soils ◽

10.5400/jts.2013.v18i1.1-9 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 18 (1) ◽

pp. 1

Author(s):

. Nurjaya ◽

Dedi Nursyamsi

Keyword(s):

Phosphate Rock ◽

Critical Level ◽

Block Design ◽

Acid Soils ◽

Maize Yield ◽

Direct Application ◽

Available P ◽

Wet Season ◽

Soil P ◽

Soil Available P

Source of P fertilizer which is used by farmers in upland acid soils area is generally acidulated phosphate rock (PR), such as tripel super phosphate (TSP), super phosphate 36% P2O5 (SP-36), as well as partial acidulated phosphate rock (PAPR) which contain 10-30% P2O5. Their effectiveness, however, varies and depends on the soil and plant types. Phosphate rock fertilizers have a high prospects for acid soils because its effectiveness equals to the SP-36, cheaper, slow release, and its application can also leave the residual P in the soil that available for plants for next few seasons. Field experiment aimed to study the effectiveness of direct application of PR at upland acid soils and its effect on soil available-P as well as maize (Zea mays L.) yield was conducted in Acid Inceptisols of Ciampea, Bogor in wet season years 2008/2009. The experiment was arranged by a Randomized Completely Block Design with 3 replications. Maize of P-12 variety was used as a plant indicator. The treatment consisted of 6 levels of phosphate rock: 0, 20, 30, 40, 50, and 60 kg P ha-1, as well as one level of SP-36 40 kg P ha-1 as standard fertilizer. In addition, urea of 300 kg ha-1 and KCl of 100 kg ha-1 were used as basal fertilization. The result showed that the application of PR in the amount ranging from 20 to 60 kg P ha-1 increased total-P and available-P, and pH, decreased exchangeable Al in the soils as well as increased maize straw and grain. Phosphate rock application at 40 kg P ha-1 level was equally effective as SP-36 in the tested soils. Critical level of soil P for maize grown in the soil was 675 and 5.00 mg P2O5 kg-1 extracted with HCl 25% and Bray I, respectively. The requirement of P for maize grown in the soil to achieve maximum profit was 38 kg P ha-1 and 17.5 kg P ha-1 or equivalent to PR of 583 and 268 kg ha-1 in low (soil P < critical level) and high (soil P > critical level) soil P status, respectively.Keywords: Direct application, phosphate rock, soil available-P, upland acid soils.[How to Cite: Nurjaya and D Nursyamsi. 2013. Effectiveness of Direct Application of Phosphate Rock in Upland Acid Inceptisols Soils on Available-P and Maize Yield. J Trop Soils 18 (1): 1-9. doi: 10.5400/jts.2013.18.1.1] [Permalink/DOI: www.dx.doi.org/10.5400/jts.2013.18.1.1]

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