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Pigeon Pea and Cowpea-Based Cropping Systems Improve Vesicular Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungal Colonisation of Subsequent Maize on the Alfisols in Central Malawi
Joint Authors
Njira, Keston O. W.
Semu, Ernest
Mrema, Jerome P.
Nalivata, Patson C.
Source
International Journal of Microbiology
Issue
Vol. 2017, Issue 2017 (31 Dec. 2017), pp.1-9, 9 p.
Publisher
Hindawi Publishing Corporation
Publication Date
2017-05-11
Country of Publication
Egypt
No. of Pages
9
Main Subjects
Abstract EN
Mycorrhizal associations contribute to the sustainability of crop production systems through their roles in nutrient cycling and other benefits in the soil-plant ecosystems.
A two-year study was conducted on the Alfisols of Lilongwe and Dowa districts, Central Malawi, to assess the vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizal (VAM) fungal colonisation levels in pigeon pea, cowpea, and maize grown in sole cropping, legume-cereal, and legume-legume intercropping systems and in the maize grown in short rotation (year 2) as influenced by the previous cropping systems and N fertilizer application.
The gridline intersect method was used to assess the VAM fungal colonisation levels.
Results showed that all treatments that included legumes whether grown as sole crop, in legume-cereal or in legume-legume cropping systems in the previous year, had significantly higher (P < 0.05) VAM fungal colonisation of the rotational maize crop roots by a range 39% to 50% and 19% to 47% than those in maize supplied and not supplied with N fertilizer, respectively, in a maize-maize short rotation, at the Lilongwe site.
A similar trend was reported for the Dowa site.
Furthermore, there were positive correlations between VAM fungal colonisation and the plant P content, dry matter yield, and nodule numbers.
Further studies may help to assess the diversity of VAM fungal species in Malawi soils and identify more adaptive ones for inoculation studies.
American Psychological Association (APA)
Njira, Keston O. W.& Semu, Ernest& Mrema, Jerome P.& Nalivata, Patson C.. 2017. Pigeon Pea and Cowpea-Based Cropping Systems Improve Vesicular Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungal Colonisation of Subsequent Maize on the Alfisols in Central Malawi. International Journal of Microbiology،Vol. 2017, no. 2017, pp.1-9.
https://search.emarefa.net/detail/BIM-1167529
Modern Language Association (MLA)
Njira, Keston O. W.…[et al.]. Pigeon Pea and Cowpea-Based Cropping Systems Improve Vesicular Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungal Colonisation of Subsequent Maize on the Alfisols in Central Malawi. International Journal of Microbiology No. 2017 (2017), pp.1-9.
https://search.emarefa.net/detail/BIM-1167529
American Medical Association (AMA)
Njira, Keston O. W.& Semu, Ernest& Mrema, Jerome P.& Nalivata, Patson C.. Pigeon Pea and Cowpea-Based Cropping Systems Improve Vesicular Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungal Colonisation of Subsequent Maize on the Alfisols in Central Malawi. International Journal of Microbiology. 2017. Vol. 2017, no. 2017, pp.1-9.
https://search.emarefa.net/detail/BIM-1167529
Data Type
Journal Articles
Language
English
Notes
Includes bibliographical references
Record ID
BIM-1167529