Potential Of Rhizobium Inoculation And Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi To Improve Yield Of Cowpea Genotypes In Afgoye District, Lower Shabelle Region, Somalia
Volume 7 - Issue 4, April 2024 Edition
[Download Full Paper]
Author(s)
Salad Mohamed Dahir, David Mushimiyimana, John Muchiri
Keywords
Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, Cowpea, Rhizobium, Yield
Abstract
Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L.) is an important legume crop in sub-Saharan Africa grown for leaf, grain and fodder. The decline in soil fertility limits cowpea production and farmers heavily use inorganic fertilizers to compensate for the lost soil nutrients. Unfortunately, frequent use of inorganic fertilizers leads to environmental problems including salinity, nutrient runoff, contamination of water bodies, as well as being non-renewable. The aim of this study was to determine the positive effects of Rhizobial inoculants and Arbuscular Mycorrhizal fungi on growth and yield of cowpea, to check if these environmentally friendly bio-fertilizers can be a good alternative to inorganic fertilizers. Field experiment was conducted in Afgoye district, Somalia, to evaluate the effect of rhizobium inoculation and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi as bio-fertilizers with or without mineral fertilizer (NPK) on yield of two Kenyan cowpea varieties: Machakos 66, Katumani 80 and a Somali local landrace. Treatments consisted of T1: Control (zero fertilizer), T2: Rhizobium (250 g for 15 kg of seeds), T3: Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (3 g per plant), T4: NPK fertilizer (2 g per plant), T5: Rhizobium (125 g for 15 kg of seeds)+NPK fertilizer (1 g per plant), T6: Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (1.5 g per plant)+NPK fertilizer (1 g per plant), T7: Rhizobium (125 g for 15 kg of seeds)+Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (1.5 g per plant)+NPK fertilizer (1 g per plant) arranged in a randomized complete block design with 3 replicates per treatment. Data collected on fresh weight, dry weight of the leaves and grain yield were subjected to analysis of variance using SPSS. Significant means were separated using Duncan multiple range test at 95% level of confidence. Results showed that the sole NPK (2 g per plant) followed by Rhizobium (125 g for 15 kg of seeds)+Mycorrhiza (1.5 g per plant)+NPK (1 g per plant) recorded the highest fresh weight (665.8 g per plot, 643.8 g per plot) and dry weight of leaves (97.3 g per plot, 97.2 g per plot). Rhizobium (125 g for 15 kg of seeds)+Mycorrhiza (1.5 g per plant)+NPK (1 g per plant) achieved the highest grain yield (1253.5 kg ha-1) followed by sole NPK (2 g per plant) and Rhizobium (125 g for 15 kg of seeds) +NPK (1 g per plant) with 1225.7 kg ha-1 and 1202.2 kg ha-1, respectively. The control recorded the lowest grain yield (998.8 kg ha-1). M66 variety produced 440.6 kg ha-1 and 74.7 kg ha-1 higher grain yield than that recorded in the local landrace and K80 variety, respectively. The local landrace achieved the highest fresh and dry weight of leaves. Based on the findings of this study, combination of Rhizobium (125 g for 15 kg of seeds) + Mycorrhiza (1.5 g per plant)+NPK (1 g per plant) followed by Rhizobium (125 g for 15 kg of seeds)+NPK (1 g per plant) improved both leaves and grain yield of cowpea thus can be used to complement the use of mineral fertilizers in cowpea production. Further studies on effect of Rhizobium inoculation and Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi on the nutritional quality of cowpea produced should be conducted.
References
[1] Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, “The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World.” Building Climate Resilience for Food Security and Nutrition. Rome, Italy, 2009. [Online]. Available: http://www.fao.org/faostat/en/#data. [Accessed: Dec. 13, 2023].
[2] Food and Agriculture Organization, “How to Feed the World in 2050,”. Rome, Italy, 2009. [Online]. Available: https://www.fao.org › wsfs › docs › expert_paper. [Accessed: Jan. 14, 2024].
[3] C. Nellemann, M. MacDevette, T. Manders, B. Eickhout, B. Svihus, and B. P. Kaltenborn, B. P, “The environmental food crisis – The environment’s role in averting future food crises,” A UNEP rapid response assessment. United Nations Environment Programme, GRID-Arendal, www.grida.no., 2009.
[4] Food and Agriculture Organization, “Agricultural Outlook2011-2020,”. Available: https://doi.org/10.1787/agr_outlook-2011-sum-en. [Accessed: Dec. 21, 2023].
[5] K. Pawlak, and M. Ko?odziejczak, “The Role of Agriculture in Ensuring Food Security in Developing Countries: Considerations in the Context of the Problem of Sustainable Food Production,” Sustainability, vol. 12, no. 13, Jul., pp. 5488, 2020.
[6] P. M. Grant, “The fertilization of sandy soils in peasant agriculture, “Zimbabwe Agricultural Journal, vol. 78, no. 5, Jul., pp. 169-175, 1981.
[7] R. Lal, “Degradation and resilience of soils,” Journal of Plant and Soil Science, vol. 352, Jul., pp. 997–1010, 1997.
[8] G. S. Gupta, “Land Degradation and Challenges of Food Security,” Review of European Studies, vol. 11, no. 1, Jan., pp. 63-72, 2019.
[9] J. N. Pretty, C. Brett, D. Gee, R. E. Hine, C. F. Mason, and B. G. Van der, “An assessment of the total external costs of UK agriculture,” Agricultural Systems, vol. 65, Aug., pp. 113-136, 2000.
[10] N. B. Chavada, B. D. Amit, and P. Bhavesh, “Study on Diazotrophic and IAA producing bacteria isolated from Desert soil,” International Journal of Applied Biology, vol. 3, Apr., pp. 1067-1071, 2010.
[11] N. Ghosh, “Promoting Bio-fertilizers in Indian Agriculture,” Economic and Political Weekly, vol. 39, no. 52, Jan., pp. 5617-5625, 2004.
[12] A. A. Mahmud, K. Sudhir, A. K. Upadhyay, A. Srivastava, and A. B Asger, “Biofertilizers: A Nexus between soil fertility and crop productivity under abiotic stress,” Current Research in Environmental Sustainability, vol. 3, Jul., pp. 100063, 2021.
[13] Humbert, J.Y., Dwyer, J.M., Andrey, A., & Arlettaz, R. (2016). Impacts of nitrogen addition on plant biodiversity in mountain grasslands depend on dose, application duration and climate: A systematic review. Global Change Biology 22(1), 110-120. https://doi.org/10.1111/gcb.1298.
[14] Midolo, G., Alkemade, R., Schipper, A.M., Benítez-López, A., Perring, M.P., & De Vries, W. (2019). Impacts of nitrogen addition on plant species richness and abundance: A global meta-analysis. Global Ecology and Biogeography 28(3), 398-413.
[15] Saha, H.M. (2002). Participatory evaluation of cowpea cultivars for adaptation in coastal Kenya. MSc. Thesis. University of Nairobi, Kenya.
[16] A. M. Abdi, and F. Aslanova, “Impact of Re-Current Droughts and Climate Change on Goats Farming in Horn of Africa Somalia Study Case at Afgoye District Southern Somalia,” International Research Journal of Engineering and Technology (IRJET), vol. 9, no. 1, Jan., pp. 464-475, 2022.
[17] J. C. Biswas, J. K. Ladha, and F.B. Dazzo, “Rhizobia inoculation improves nutrient uptake and growth of lowland rice,” Soil Science Society of American Journal, vol. 64, Sept., pp. 1644–1650, 2000.
[18] L. Lunze et al., “Integrated Soil Fertility Management in Bean-Based Cropping Systems of Eastern, Central and Southern Africa,” Soil Fertility Improvement and Integrated Nutrient Management - A Global Perspective. InTech, Feb., 2012.
[19] G. Krasilnikoff, T. Gahoonia, and N. Erik-Nelson, “Variation in Phosphorus Uptake by Genotypes of cowpea (Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp) due to differences in root and root hair length and induced rhizosphere processes,” Plant and Soil, vol. 251, Apr., pp. 8391, 2003.
[20] D. Nyoki, and P.A. Ndakidemi, “Economic benefits of Bradyrhizobium japonicum inoculation and phosphorus supplementation in cowpea (Vigna unguiculata [L.] Walp) grown in northern Tanzania,” American Journal of Research Communication, vol. 1, no.11, Nov., pp. 173-189, 2013.
[21] A. E. Kudum, G. N. Chemining’wa, J. M. Kinama, and D. M. Mac, “Effect of intensity and frequency of leaf harvesting on growth, nodulation, and yield of selected cowpea varieties,” East African Journal of Science, Technology and Innovation, vol. 3, no. 3, Jun., pp. 1-14, 2022.
[22] C. Bhattarai, D. Marasini, P. Dawadi, S. Aryal, “Evaluation of performances of cowpea (Vigna ungiculata) genotypes in agronomy farm of Lamjung Campus,” International Journal of Applied Sciences and Biotechnology, vol.5, no.3, pp.382?85, 2017.
[23] B. A. Jannat, “Impact of different combinations of bio fertilizer and inorganic fertilizer on growth and yield of chickpea,” Thesis. Shere-Bangla Agricultural University, Dhaka. Bangladesh, 2017.
[24] G. Koskey, S. W. Mburu, E. M. Njeru, J.M. Kimiti, O. Ombori, and J.M. Maingi, “Potential of native rhizobia in enhancing nitrogen fixation and yields of climbing beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) in contrasting environments of Eastern Kenya,” Frontiers in Plant Science, vol. 8, Mar., pp. 443, 2017.
[25] D. T. Matse, C. H. Huang, Y. M. Huang, and G. Yen, “Nitrogen uptake and growth of white clover inoculated with indigenous and exotic Rhizobium Strains,” Journal of Plant Nutrition, vol. 43, no. 13, May., pp. 2013-2027, 2020.
[26] L. G. Lombin, J. A. Adepetu, and A. K. Ayotade, “Organic Fertilizer In The Nigerian Agriculture,”: Present and future F.P.D.D. Abuja, pp. 146-162, 1991.
[27] U. Mathesius, “Are legumes different? Origins and consequences of evolving nitrogen fixing symbioses,” Journal of Plant Physiology, vol. 276, pp. 153765, 2022
[28] E. C. Gough, K. J. Owen, R. S. Zwart, and J. P. Thompson, “The role of nutrients underlying interactions among root-nodule bacteria (Bradyrhizobium sp.), arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (Funneliformis mosseae) and root-lesion nematodes (Pratylenchus thornei) in nitrogen fixation and growth of mung bean (Vigna radiata),” Plant and Soil, vol. 472, no. 1–2, pp. 421–449, Jan. 2022, doi: 10.1007/s11104-021-05254-8.
[29] S. Nosheen, I. Ajmal, and Y. Song, “Microbes as Biofertilizers, a Potential Approach for Sustainable Crop Production,” Sustainability, vol. 13, no. 4, p. 1868, Feb. 2021, doi: 10.3390/su13041868.
[30] A. Saboor et al., “Zinc nutrition and arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis effects on maize (Zea mays L.) growth and productivity,” Saudi Journal of Biological Sciences, vol. 28, no. 11, pp. 6339–6351, Nov. 2021, doi:10.1016/j.sjbs.2021.06.096.
[31] J. Yang, L. Lan, Y. Jin, N. Yu, D. Wang, and E. Wang, “Mechanisms underlying legume–rhizobium symbioses,” Journal of Integrative Plant Biology, vol. 64, no. 2, pp. 244–267, Feb. 2022, doi: 10.1111/jipb.13207.
[32] R. Álvarez-Aragón, J. M. Palacios, and E. Ramírez-Parra, “Rhizobial symbiosis promotes drought tolerance in Vicia sativa and Pisum sativum,” Environmental and Experimental Botany, vol. 208, p. 105268, Apr. 2023.
