Biofertilizer-Based Zinc Application Enhances Maize Growth, Gas Exchange Attributes, and Yield in Zinc-Deficient Soil

Abdul Saboor, Muhammad Arif Ali, Niaz Ahmed, Milan Skalicky, Subhan Danish, Shah Fahad, Fahmy Hassan, Mohamed M. Hassan, Marian Brestic, Ayman EL Sabagh and Rahul Datta
Additional contact information
Abdul Saboor: Department of Soil Science, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences and Technology, Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan 60800, Pakistan
Muhammad Arif Ali: Department of Soil Science, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences and Technology, Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan 60800, Pakistan
Niaz Ahmed: Department of Soil Science, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences and Technology, Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan 60800, Pakistan
Milan Skalicky: Department of Botany and Plant Physiology, Faculty of Agrobiology, Food and Natural Resources, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Kamycka 129, 165 00 Prague, Czech Republic
Subhan Danish: Department of Soil Science, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences and Technology, Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan 60800, Pakistan
Shah Fahad: Hainan Key Laboratory for Sustainable Utilization of Tropical Bioresource, College of Tropical Crops, Hainan University, Haikou 570228, China
Fahmy Hassan: Department of Biology, College of Science, Taif University, P.O. Box 11099, Taif 21944, Saudi Arabia
Mohamed M. Hassan: Department of Biology, College of Science, Taif University, P.O. Box 11099, Taif 21944, Saudi Arabia
Marian Brestic: Department of Botany and Plant Physiology, Faculty of Agrobiology, Food and Natural Resources, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Kamycka 129, 165 00 Prague, Czech Republic
Ayman EL Sabagh: Department of Agronomy, Faculty of Agriculture, Kafrelsheikh University, Kafrelsheikh 33516, Egypt
Rahul Datta: Department of Geology and Pedology, Faculty of Forestry and Wood Technology, Mendel University in Brno, Zemedelska 1, 613 00 Brno, Czech Republic

Agriculture, 2021, vol. 11, issue 4, 1-20

Abstract: Zinc (Zn) concentration in soil varies from deficient to toxic. Its deficiency, as well as toxicity, through imbalanced application and cropping in industrial sites can reduce maize growth and yield. Therefore, balanced Zn application is necessary to save resources and achieve optimum growth and yield in maize. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) can provide tolerance to the host plant against Zn-induced stress. Inoculation with AMF helps in regulating the uptake of Zn and enhances the growth and yield of crops. Different application rates of Zn (0, 20, 40, 60, 80, 100, and 120 mg Zn kg −1 ) were applied with inoculation with AMF (AM) and without AMF (NM). Results showed that root colonization was 45% higher in AMF-inoculated plants than non-inoculated plants. A significant increase in plant height (15%), number of leaves (35.4%), cob weight (4.39%), 1000-grain weight (10.5%), and biological yield (42.2%) signified the efficacious functioning of Zn20 + AM over sole inoculation with AM. We also observed that AMF inoculation with Zn20 helped to improve photosynthesis, transpiration, and stomatal conductance. Furthermore, both Zn20 + AM and Zn20 + AM significantly increased total soluble protein compared with AM. Higher application rates of zinc, i.e., Zn80 and Zn120, induced Zn toxicity with (AM) and without (NM) AMF. In conclusion, Zn20 + AM is an effective treatment to achieve better growth and maize yield without Zn deficiency or toxicity.

Keywords: arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi; maize; zinc; gas exchange attributes; morphological attributes; yield (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q1 Q10 Q11 Q12 Q13 Q14 Q15 Q16 Q17 Q18 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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