Abstract
Alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) is one of the most important forages and legume crops in the Mediterranean region, where extensive soil exploitation and low soil fertility are among the factor limiting its production. In this study, a field experiment was carried out in the semi-arid area of Morocco, in order to assess the influence of the individual and combined application of autochthonous arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), rhizobium strain and green compost supply on alfalfa. Vegetative yield, physiological and biochemical traits were evaluated together with the associated changes in the soil’s physico-chemical parameters. The results show that AMF and rhizobium inoculation combined with compost application induced the greatest effect. This treatment increased the dry matter yield, leaves and nodules number, and AMF infection rate. Moreover, the combined use of these biofertilizers further enhanced stomatal conductance, photosystem II efficiency, photosynthetic pigments (chlorophyll and carotenoids), protein and sugar content along with the nutrients uptake (Phosphorus (P), Nitrogen (N), Potassium (K) and Calcium (Ca)). When compared with the initial soil status, the compost (10 t/ha) combined with AMF and rhizobium significantly improved the organic matter, N and P content, decreased soil pH and increased electrical conductivity. This treatment is also efficient in increasing soil glomalin content. This study demonstrated that the interaction between green waste compost, AMF and rhizobium inoculation could have important implications in alfalfa sustainable agriculture.
Zusammenfassung
Die Luzerne (Medicago sativa L.) ist eine der wichtigsten Futter- und Hülsenfruchtkulturen im Mittelmeerraum, wo die extensive Bodennutzung und die geringe Bodenfruchtbarkeit zu den Faktoren gehören, die ihre Produktion einschränken. In dieser Studie wurde ein Feldversuch in einem semi-ariden Gebiet Marokkos durchgeführt, um den Einfluss von autochthonen arbuskulären Mykorrhizapilzen (AMF), eines Rhizobienstamms und der Grünkompostversorgung – einzeln oder in Kombination – auf die Luzerne zu untersuchen. Vegetativer Ertrag, physiologische und biochemische Parameter wurden zusammen mit den damit verbundenen Veränderungen der physikalisch-chemischen Parameter des Bodens bewertet. Die Ergebnisse zeigen, dass die Inokulation mit AMF und Rhizobium in Kombination mit der Kompostanwendung die größte Wirkung erzielte. Diese Behandlung erhöhte den Trockenmasseertrag, die Anzahl der Blätter, die Anzahl der Knötchen und die AMF-Infektionsrate. Darüber hinaus wurden durch den kombinierten Einsatz dieser Biodünger die stomatäre Leitfähigkeit, die Photosystem-II-Effizienz, die photosynthetischen Pigmente (Chlorophyll und Carotinoide), der Protein- und Zuckergehalt sowie die Nährstoffaufnahme (Phosphor (P), Stickstoff (N), Kalium (K) und Kalzium (Ca)) weiter verbessert. Im Vergleich zum anfänglichen Bodenzustand verbesserte der Kompost (10 t/ha) in Kombination mit AMF und Rhizobium signifikant die organische Masse, den N‑ und P‑Gehalt, senkte den pH-Wert des Bodens und erhöhte die elektrische Leitfähigkeit. Diese Behandlung ist auch effizient bezüglich der Erhöhung des Glomalin-Gehalts im Boden. Die Studie zeigte, dass die Kombination von Grünabfallkompost, AMF- und Rhizobium-Inokulation wichtige Auswirkungen auf eine nachhaltige Landwirtschaft der Luzerne haben könnte.
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Funding
This work was funded by the Moroccan Ministry of Higher Education, Scientific Research and Executive Training and also supported by the Socially Responsible Projects, Cadi Ayyad University UCAM/RSU 2018 Marrakech, Morocco.
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R. Ben-Laouane, M. Ait-El-Mokhtar, M. Anli, A. Boutasknit, Y. Ait Rahou, A. Raklami, K. Oufdou, S. Wahbi and A. Meddich declare that they have no competing interests.
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Ben-Laouane, R., Ait-El-Mokhtar, M., Anli, M. et al. Green Compost Combined with Mycorrhizae and Rhizobia: A Strategy for Improving Alfalfa Growth and Yield Under Field Conditions. Gesunde Pflanzen 73, 193–207 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10343-020-00537-z
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10343-020-00537-z