EFFECT OF ARBUSCULAR MYCORRHIZAL FUNGI INOCULATION ON PHOSPHATE FERTILIZATION EFFICIENCY, GROWTH, AND PRODUCTIVITY OF TEFF UNDER FIELD CONDITIONS IN SIDAMA HAWASSA

Abstract

Phosphorus (P) is one of plant macronutrients required for Teff (Eragrostis tef) production. However, P is difficult to control in worn soils, and fertilization practices are inefficient because it becomes unavailable for uptake by plant roots. Plant-arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus (AMF) symbiosis promotes plant growth and boosts P uptake from the soil that is not immediately available to the roots. Thus, the goal of this study was to evaluate how inoculation with consortia of AMF and phosphate fertilization interacts and effects the growth and productivity of Ethiopia's traditional staple food crop, teff. In 2023, the field trial was carried out at the research Village of Hawassa University. The administration of phosphate (0, 25, 50, 75, and 100% concentrations of the required level) during crop sowing was done in split plots using a randomized block design, and AMF crude inoculants were applied to all treatments except the control. The results demonstrated that the application of AMF inoculants and varying rates of phosphorus had a substantial impact on teff dry matter yield, yield components, and all evaluated growth parameters. When compared to the control and the other two varieties, the applications of AMF+50%, AMF+75%P, and AMF+100% for white teff produced the highest teff grain yield (10550kg ha-1 ). When the teff is red at AMF+50%P, mixed at AMF+100%P, and white at AMF+100%P, it benefits greatly. Mixed variety had the highest mycorrhizal dependency (MD) of 44%. For AMF+25%P treatments, the maximum Phosphorus usage efficiency (PuE) was regularly observed. The white variety had a greater harvest index (2.63). Furthermore, with increased P treatment, there is a continuous drop in both the spore density and root length colonization (RLC). In summary, all the results indicate that increasing the P level decreases AMF colonization and spore density, although in certain situations it increases biomass yield. To sum up, more study combining current agricultural practices with traditional methods from the area is required to gain a better knowledge of the application of AMF in teff cultivation and P fertilizer application.