EFFECT OF AGRICULTURAL LIME, ORGANIC AND INORGANIC FERTILIZER ON ARBUSCULAR MYCORRHIZAL FUNGI POPULATION AND DIVERSITY IN MAIZE RHIZOSPHERE SOIL IN NIGER STATE

Abstract

Knowledge of various soil amendments influencing soil microbial community is a vital soil health indicator. A field trial was conducted at Gidan Mangoro, Minna, Niger Sate using five farmers’ fields to evaluate the effect of agricultural lime, organic manure (cow dung), and inorganic fertilizers (N P K 20: 10: 10, urea and SSP) on Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi (AMF) population and diversity on soil cultivated to maize. Soil samples were collected before and after maize cultivation at a depth of 0-20 cm with the use of auger using a random technique. The experimental design used was a Randomized Complete Block Design with 5 replicates, Minitab package (2017) was used for statistical analysis, mean separation was done according to Bonferroni simultaneous at 95 % level of significance. The results revealed significant differences in arbuscular mycorrhizal spore count and diversity in response to the various soil amendments used. The application of cow dung+Inorganic fertilizer recorded significant (P<0.05) spore count of 779 spores / 50 g dwt in soil cultivated to maize as compared to the control which recorded 416 spore / 50 g dwt. Acaulospora and Funneliformis species of AMF were mostly observed, however, Glomus, Gigaspora, and Rhizophagus were also present in the soil of the study area. The effects of fertilizers, especially integrated soil fertility management on Arbuscular Mycorrhizal fungal sporulation and species diversity varies, hence the need for further precise study.