Effects of Field Inoculation with VAM and Bacteria Consortia on Root Growth and Nutrients Uptake in Common Wheat

Cristian Dal Cortivo, Giuseppe Barion, Manuel Ferrari, Giovanna Visioli, Lucia Dramis, Anna Panozzo and Teofilo Vamerali
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Cristian Dal Cortivo: Department of Agronomy, Food, Natural Resources, Animals and the Environment, University of Padua, 35020 Legnaro-Padua, Italy
Giuseppe Barion: Department of Agronomy, Food, Natural Resources, Animals and the Environment, University of Padua, 35020 Legnaro-Padua, Italy
Manuel Ferrari: Department of Agronomy, Food, Natural Resources, Animals and the Environment, University of Padua, 35020 Legnaro-Padua, Italy
Giovanna Visioli: Department of Chemistry, Life Sciences and Environmental Sustainability, University of Parma, 43124 Parma, Italy
Lucia Dramis: Department of Chemistry, Life Sciences and Environmental Sustainability, University of Parma, 43124 Parma, Italy
Anna Panozzo: Department of Agronomy, Food, Natural Resources, Animals and the Environment, University of Padua, 35020 Legnaro-Padua, Italy
Teofilo Vamerali: Department of Agronomy, Food, Natural Resources, Animals and the Environment, University of Padua, 35020 Legnaro-Padua, Italy

Sustainability, 2018, vol. 10, issue 9, 1-21

Abstract: This study investigated the effects of a commercial biofertilizer containing the mycorrhizal fungus Rhizophagus irregularis and the diazotrophic N-fixing bacterium Azotobacter vinelandii on root and shoot growth, yield, and nutrient uptake in common wheat ( Triticum aestivum L.) in order to improve the sustainable cultivation of this widespread crop. The trials were carried out in controlled conditions (rhizoboxes) and in open fields over two years to investigate the interaction between inoculation and three doses of nitrogen fertilization (160, 120 and 80 kg ha −1 ) in a silty-loam soil of the Po Plain (NE Italy). In rhizoboxes, efficient root colonization by R. irregularis was observed at 50 days after sowing with seed inoculation, together with improved root tip density and branching (+~30% vs. controls), while the effects of post-emergence inoculation by soil and foliar spraying were not observable at plant sampling. In the open, field spraying at end tillering significantly increased the volumetric root length density (RLD, +22% vs. controls) and root area density (+18%) after about two months (flowering stage) in both years under medium and high N fertilization doses, but not at the lowest N dose. In absence of inoculation, RLD progressively decreased with increased N doses. Inoculation had a negligible effect on grain yield and N uptake, which followed a typical N dose-response model, while straw Zn, P, and K concentrations were seldom improved. It is concluded that medium-high N fertilization doses are required to achieve the target yield and standards of quality (protein contents) in wheat cultivation, while the use of this mixed VAM-PGPR biofertilizer appears to be a sustainable mean for minimizing the adverse effects of chemical N fertilizers on root expansion and for improving the uptake of low-mobility nutrients, which has potentially relevant environmental benefits.

Keywords: biofertilizer; Rhizophagus irregularis; Azotobacter vinelandii; nitrogen fertilization; root patterns (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2018
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:10:y:2018:i:9:p:3286-:d:169831

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