Effects of Using Biofertilizers on the Productivity of Some potential Crops in Sudan

Abstract

The study was performed to test the effects of isolates local mycorrhizal fungi from date palm, alfalfa and sugarcane plants on sorghum and zea maize plants growth traits (plant height, top dry weight, root dry weight, color rating, root colonization and tissue content of nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus). Also, the effects local and alien strains of Rhizobium, and isolated local mycorrhiza (VAM) on groundnut plant growth traits were studied. The use of VAM enhanced growth and development of sorghum and maize plants. VAM isolated from date palm enhanced the performance of sorghum and maize plants in the greenhouse and maize plants in the field and improved all traits tested over the uninoculated plants and controls. The best colonization was observed in plant root infected with mycorrhiza isolated from date palm, followed by mycorrhiza isolated from alfalfa. Both treatments were better than other mycorrhizal treatments. Also the results indicated a significant increase in spores density. The highest spore’s density was reported with date palm mycorrhizal inoculums. High spores density in the soil lead to an increase in root infection. It was apparent from these findings that the mycorrhiza isolated from date palm is superior in improving the measured growth traits. In addition, sorghum and maize plants inoculated with AM significantly increased the shoot phosphorus content. AM fungi and Rhizobium positively affected groundnuts plant growth traits and nutrient uptake both in the greenhouse and the field. The performance of the AMF alone or in combinations with Rhizobium strains was significantly better than that of the bacteria alone in terms of plant height, top dry weight and root dry weight.