Mycorrhizal inoculation and fertilizer microdosing interactions in pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum) under greenhouse conditions.
Frontiers in fungal biology January 1, 2024 Malick Ndiaye, Alain Mollier, Adama Diouf et al.
In a pot experiment, inoculating pearl millet with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) alongside microdoses of mineral fertilizer and organic manure improved plant growth and nutrient uptake compared to no fertilizer. The highest biomass came from AMF and organic manure treatments. Combining AMF with microdosed NPK fertilizer raised nitrogen and calcium concentrations, while AMF with organic matter boosted potassium. Adding AMF to microdosed NPK and compost increased zinc and nickel. Root colonization ranged from 0.55% to 56.4%. The findings indicate that AMF inoculation can enhance nutrient efficiency under microdosing fertilization, offering a partial alternative to full mineral fertilizer use in low-fertility Sahel soils.