The roles of biochar and arbuscular mycorrhizal inoculation on selected soil biological properties and tomato performance
Year: 2018
Type: article
Abstract: Field experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of biochar application and arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) inoculation on selected soil biological characteristics, shoot P and fruit yield of two tomato genotypes. Result indicated that mycorrhizal inoculation significantly (p< 0.05) increased shoot P (0.72 g P kg -1 ) and number of AM spores (47.90 spores / 25 g soil) compared to non-mycorrhizal plants, but no significant difference was observed in tomato fruit yield, microbial biomass carbon (MBC) and microbial biomass nitrogen (MBN). Application of 20 t ha -1 of biochar significantly (p< 0.05) increased tomato fruit yields and number of AM spores when compared with the control. However, 10 and 15 t ha -1 of biochar rates gave comparable performance as 20 t ha -1 of biochar in most cases. No significant differences were observed in shoot P, MBC and MBN among biochar rates. Thus, AM inoculation enhanced P nutrition while biochar improved AM spores abundance as well as tomato fruit yields. The 20 t ha -1 of biochar could be used to improve AM spores abundance as well as tomato fruit yields. Keywords: Biochar; AM Fungi; Biological Properties; Tomato Performance
Source: FUTY Journal of the Environment
Language: English
Subfield: Plant Science
Domain: Life Sciences
SDGs: Zero hunger, Life on land
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W2920872925