Effects of Application of Biochar and Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi on Growth and Chemical Composition of Corn (Zea mays L.704) in a Calcareous Soil

Document Type : Complete scientific research article

Authors

Abstract

Background and objectives: The use of biochar and organic manures have positive effects on soil fertility, crop production and carbon sequestration in soil. However, their effects depend on soil characteristics, plant species and type of the raw material used in the production of biochar. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of application of organic manures (sheep and paltry) and their biochars, two species of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and their interactions on shoot and root dry matter, root colonization percentage, chlorophyll index and uptake of some micro and macro-nutrients by corn in a calcareous soil under greenhouse condition.
Materials and methods: To do this research, appropriate amount of soil from surface horizon (0-30) of a calcareous soil was collected, air dried and passed through 2mm sieve. A factorial experiment as a completely randomized design was conducted with three replications. The first factor including organic manure at five levels (without organic manure (C), sheep manure (SM), paltry manure (PM), sheep manure biochar (SMB) and paltry manure biochar (PMB) each at 2 % w/w) and the second factor was fungal inoculation (non-inoculation (NG), inoculation with Funneliformis mosseae (FM) and Glomus versiform (GV)). Biochars were produced using the pyrolysis of organic manures (500 0C during 4 h) in the limited oxygen conditions. After applying treatments, 5 corn seeds were planted at a depth of about 2 cm in plastic pots. During the growth periods, soil moisture content was maintained at about 80 % of field capacity using distilled water. After 10 weeks of plant growth, shoot and root dry matter, chlorophyll index, root colonization percentage and the concentration of nitrogen, phosphorous, potassium, iron, manganese, zinc and copper of shoot were measured. The amount of nutrient uptake was calculated by multiplying the nutrient concentration in shoot dry matter.
Results: The highest increase of root colonization was observed in the GV fungi treatment by 112 %. Also, application of organic treatments (except SMB) increased root colonization percentage significantly. Addition of each four types of organic treatments caused a significant increase in chlorophyll index compared to control, so that, the highest value was observed in the SM treatment. In organic treatments, the sequence of shoot and root dry matter, uptake of nitrogen, phosphorous, and potassium, was as follows: PMB > PM > SMB > SM > Cl. Also, the effect of application of GV fungi on enhancement of above mentioned characteristics was higher than FM fungi considerably. Application of GV unlike FM fungi, led to a significant increase of copper and manganese uptake by 14.7 and 18.6 % compared to control respectively. The sequence of copper and manganese uptake in different organic treatments, was as follows: PMB > PM > SMB > SM > Cl. Among the treatments, only separate application of PMB and FM fungi caused a significant increase of iron uptake compared to control. Application of FM and GV fungi significantly increased uptake of zinc by 15 and 45.4 % compared to control respectively. The sequence of zinc uptake in organic treatments was as follows: PM=PMB > SMB=SM > Cl. The results of interaction effects of treatments showed that the effect of simultaneous application of fungi and organic manure on studied indices were different and depended on type of applied organic manure and mycorrhizae fungi.
Conclusions: The results showed that the use of SMB and PMB were more effective to increase the yield and uptake of nutrients by corn than their raw materials (SM and PM). In general, it seems that simultaneous application of PMB and GV fungi was more effective to improve the most studied factors than other treatments.

Keywords


1.Abbasi, M.K., and Anwar, A.A. 2015. Ameliorating effects of biochar derived from poultry
manure and white clover residues on soil nutrient status and plant growth Promotion -
greenhouse experiments. PLoS ONE. 10: 6. 1-18.
2.Abdullahi, R., Lihan, S., and Edward, R. 2015. Effect of Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and
Poultry Manure on Growth and Nutrients Uptake by Maize under Field Condition. Inter. J.
Agric. Inn. Res. 4: 1. 2319-1473.
3.Adejumo, S.A., Owolabi, M.O., and Odesola, I.F. 2016. Agro-physiologic effects of compost
and biochar produced at different temperatures on growth, photosynthetic pigment and
micronutrients uptake of maize crop. Afric. J. Agric. Res. 11: 8. 661-673.
4.Amonette, J.E., and Joseph, S. 2009. Characteristics of Biochar: Microchemical Properties.
P 33-43, In: J. Lehmann and S. Joseph (Eds.), Bio- char for Environmental Management
Science and Technology. Earthscan, London.
5.Auge, R.M. 2001. Water relation, drought and vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis.
Mycorrhizae. 11: 3-42.
6.Chan, K.Y., Zwieten, L.V., Meszaros, I., Downie, A., and Joseph, S. 2008. Using poultry litter
biochars as soil amendments. Austr. J. Soil Res. 46: 3. 437-444.
7.Chan, K.Y., Van Zwieten, L., Meszaros, I., Downie, A., and Joseph, S. 2007. Agronomic
values of greenwaste biochar as a soil amendment. Austr. J. Soil Res. 45: 629-634.
8.Claoston, N.A., Samsuri, M.H., and Husni, A. 2014. Effects of pyrolysis temperature on the
physicochemical properties of empty fruit bunch and rice husk biochars. Waste Management
and Research. 32: 4. 331-339.
9.Dalp‚ Y. 1993. Vesicular arbuscular mycorrhiza. Canadian Society of Soil Science,
Lewis Publication, Pp: 287-301.
10.Darzi, M., Ghalavand, A., and Rejali, F. 2009. The effects of biofertilizeres application on N,
P, K assimilation and seed yield in fennel (Foeniculum vulgare Mill.). Iran. J. Med. Arom.
Plant. 25: 11-19. (In Persian)
11.Ding, Z., Hu, X., Wan, Y., Wang, S., and Gao, B. 2015. Removal of lead, copper, cadmium,
zinc and nickel from aqueous solutions by alkali-modified biochar: Batch and column tests.
J. Ind. Engin. Chem. 15: 300-307.
12.Farhad, W., Saleem, M.F., Cheema, M.A., and Hammad, H.M. 2009. Effect of
poultry manure levels on the productivity of spring maize (Zea mays L.). J. Anim. Plant Sci.
19: 3. 122-125.
13.FAO and ILO. 1997. Maize in human nutrition intermediate level handbook. FAO and ILO
Publication; Rome, Italy.
14.Gaskin, J.W., Spier, R.A., Das, K.C., Lee, R.D., Morris, L.A., and Fisher, D.S. 2010. Effect
of peanut hull and pine chip biochar on soil nutrient status and yield. Agron. J. 102: 623-633.
15.Glaser, B., Lehmann, J., and Zech, W. 2002. Ameliorating physical and chemical properties
of highly weathered soils in the tropics with charcoal-a review. Biology and Fertility of
Soils. 35: 219-230.
16.Gunes, A., Inal, A., Taskin, M.B., Sahin, O., Kaya, E.C., and Atakol, A. 2014. Effect of
phosphorous enriched biochar and poultry manure on growth and mineral composition of
lettuce (Lectuca sativa L.) grown in alkaline soil. Soil Use and Management. 30: 182-188.
17.Hammer, E.C., Balogh-Brunstad, Z., Jakobsen, I., Axel Olsson, P., Stipp, S.L.S., and Rillig,
M.C. 2014. A mycorrhizal fungus grows on biochar and captures phosphorus from its
surfaces. Soil Biology and Biochemistry. 77: 252-260.
18.Hossain, M.K., Strezov, V., and Saxena, R. 2011. Influence of pyrolysis temperature
on production and nutrient properties of wastewater sludge biochar. J. Environ. Manage.
92: 1. 223-228.
19.Inal, A., Gunes, A., Sahin, O., Taskin, M.B., and Kaya, E.C. 2015. Impacts of biochar and
processed poultry manure, applied to a calcareous soil, on the growth of bean and maize.
Soil Use and Management. 31: 106-113.
20.Ippolito, J.A., Laird, D.A., and Busscher, W.J. 2012. Environmental benefits of biochar. J.
Environ. Qual. 41: 967-972.
21.Javaid, A. 2009. Arbuscular mycorrhizal mediated nutrition in plants. J. Plant Nutr.
32: 1595-1618.
22.Jarstfer, A.C., koppenol, P.F., and Sylvia, D.M. 1998. Tissue magnesium and calcium effects
on arbuscular mycorrhizal development and fungal reproduction. Mycorrhizaae. 7: 237-242.
23.Lehmann, J., Rillig, M.C., Thies, J., Masiello, C.A., Hockaday, W.C., and Crowley, D. 2011.
Biochar effects on soil biota–a review. Soil Biology and Biochemistry. 43: 1812-1836.
24.Lehmann, J., and Joseph, S. 2009. Biochar for environmental management: an introduction.
P 1-12, In: J. Lehmann and S. Joseph (Eds.), Biochar for Environmental Management:
Science and Technology. Earthscan, London.
25.Mahmoudzadeh, M., Rasouli Sadaghiani, M.H., Asgari Lajayer, H., and Hasani, A. 2016.
The effect of plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi
(AMF) inoculation on nutrient uptake and some morphological factors in peppermint
(Mentha piperita). J. Soil Manage. Sust. Prod. 6: 1. 161-176. (In Persian)
26.Major, J., Lehmann, J., Rondon, M., and Goodale, C. 2010. Fate of soil applied black
carbon: Downward migration, leaching and soil respiration. Global Change Biology.
16: 1366-1379.
27.Malakouti, M.J., and Homaie, M. 2004. Soil Fertility of Arid and Semiarid Regions,
Problems and Solutions. Second edition, publisher, Tarbiat Modarres University, Tehran.
28.Mau, A.E., and Utami, S.R. 2014. Effects of biochar amendment and arbuscular mycorrhizal
fungi inoculation on availability of soil phosphorus and growth of maize. J. Deg. Min. Land.
Manage. 1: 2. 69-74.
29.Matsubara, Y., Harada, T., and Yakuwa, T. 1995. Effect of inoculation density on vesicular
arbuscular mycorrhizae fungal spores and addition of carbonized materials to bed soil on
growth of Welsh onion seedlings. J. Japan. Soc. Hort. Sci. 64: 3. 549-554. (In Japanese with
English summary)
30.Melo, C.A., Coscionc, A.R., Aberu, C.A., Puga, A.P., and Camargo, O.A. 2013. Influence of
pyrolysis temperature on cadmium and zinc sorption capacity of sugar cane straw derived
biochar. BioResources. 8: 4. 4992-5004.
31.Mendez, A., Gomez, A., Paz-Ferreeiro, J., and Gasco, G. 2012. Effects of sewage sludge
biochar on plant metal availability after application to a Mediterranean soil. Chemosphere.
89: 1354-1359.
32.Mickan, B.S., Abbott, L.K., Stefanova, K.Z., and Solaiman, M. 2016. Interactions between
biochar and mycorrhizal fungi in a water-stressed agricultural soil. Mycorrhiza. 26: 565-574.
33.Murphy, J., and Riley, J.P. 1962. A modified single solution method for determination of
phosphorus in natural waters. Analytica Chimica Acta. 27: 31-36.
34.Nelson, D.L., and Cox, M.M. 2004. Lehninger Principles of Biochemistry (4th ed.) Freeman,
New York.
35.Oseni, T.O., Shongwe, N.S., and Masarirambi, M.T. 2010. Effect of arbuscular mycorrhiza
(AM) inoculation on the performance of tomato nursery seedlings in vermiculite. Inter. J.
Agric. Biol. 12: 789-792.
36.Page, A.L. 1982. Methods of Soil Analysis. Part 2. Chemical and Microbiological Methods.
Agronomy No.9. ASA and SSSA, Madison, WI.
37.Philips, J., and Hayman, D. 1970. Improved Procedures for Cleaning Roots and staining
parasitic and vesicular arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi for rapid assessment of infection.
Transactions of the British Mycological Society. 55: 158-161.
38.Saito, M. 1990. Charcoal as a micro habitat for VA mycorrhizal fungi and its practical
application. Agricultural Ecosystem Environment. 29: 341-344.
39.Scheloske, S., Maetz, M., and Povh, B. 2004. Element distribution in mycorrhizal and
nonmycorrhizal roots of the halophyte Astertripolium determined by proton induced X-ray
mission. Protoplasma. 223: 183-189.
40.Schnug, E., Oswald, P., and Haneklaus, S. 1996. Organic manure management
and efficiency: Role of organic fertilizers and their management practices. P 259-265,
In: C. Rodriguez-Barrueco (Ed.), Fertilizers and environment. Kluwer Academic Publishers.
41.Singh, B.P., Hatton, B.J., Singh, B., Cowie, A., and Kathuria, A. 2010. Influence of biochars
on nitrous oxide emission and nitrogen leaching from two contrasting soils. J. Environ. Qual.
39: 1224-1235.
42.Sohi, S.P. 2012. Carbon storage with benefits. Science. 338: 1034-1035.
43.Solaiman, Z.M., Blackwell, P., Abbott, L.K., and Storer, P. 2010. Direct and residual effect
of biochar application on mycorrhizal root colonization, growth and nutrition of wheat.
Austr. J. Soil Res. 48: 546-554.
44.Song, W., and Guo, M. 2012. Quality variations of poultry litter biochar generated at
different pyrolysis temperatures. J. Anal. Appl. Pyrol. 94: 138-145.
45.Sun, Y., Gao, B., Yao, Y., Fang, J., Zhang, M., Zhao, Y., Chen, H., and Yang, L. 2014.
Effect of feedstock type, production method and pyrolysis temperature on biochar and
hydrobiochar properties. J. Chem. Engin. 240: 574-578.
46.Toussaint, J.P., and Smith, E. 2007. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi can induce the production of
phytochemicals in sweet basil irrespective of phosphorus nutrition. Mycorrhizae. 17: 291-297.
47.Ulrich, H., Katharina, J., and Hermann, B. 2002. Towards growth of arbuscular mycorrhizal
fungi independent of a plant host. Applied Environmental Microbiology. 68: 1919-1924.
48.Uzoma, K.C., Inoue, M., Andry, H., Fujimaki, H., Zahoor, A., and Mishihara, E. 2011.
Effect of cow manure biochar on maize productivity under sany soil condition. Soil Use and
Management. 27: 205-212.
49.Wamberg, C., Christensen, S., Jakobsen, I., Muller, A.K., and Sorensen, S.J. 2003. The
mycorrhizal fungus (Glomus intraradices) affects microbial activity in the rhizosphere of pea
plants (Pisum sativum). Soil Biology and Biochemistry. 35: 1349-1357.
50.Warnock, D.D., Lehmann, J., Kuyper, T.W., and Rillig, M.C. 2007. Mycorrhizal responses
to biochar in soil-concepts and mechanisms. Plant Soil. 300: 9-20.
51.Warnock, D.D., Daniel, L., Mummey, D.D., Mcbride, B., Julie-Major, J., Lehmann, J., and
Rillig, M.C. 2010. Influences of non-herbaceous biochar on arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal
abundances in roots and soils: Results from growth-chamber and field experiments. Applied
Soil Ecology. 46: 450-456.
52.Wathira, N.L., Peter, W., and Sheila, O. 2016. Enhancement of Colonisation of Soybean
Roots by Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi Using Vermicompost and Biochar. Agriculture,
Forestry and Fisheries. 5: 3. 71-78.
53.Xu, C.Y., Hosseini-Bai, S., Hao, Y., Rachaputi, R.C.N., Wang, H., Xu, Z., and Wallace, H.
2015. Effect of biochar amendment on yield and photosynthesis of peanut on two types of
soils. Environmental Science and Pollution Research. 22: 6112-6125.
54.Yang, X., Liu, J., McGrouther, K., Hung, H., Lu, K., Gao, X., He, L., Lin, X., Che, L.,
Ye, Z., and Wang, H. 2016. Effect of biochar on the extractability of heavy metals
(Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn) and enzyme activity in soil. Environmental Science and Pollution
Research. 22: 5. 3183-3190.
55.Zarea, M.J., Ghalavand, A., Goltapeh, E., and Rejali, F. 2009. Role of clover species and
AM fungi on forage yield, nutrient uptake, nitrogenase activity and soil microbial biomass.
J. Agric. Technol. 5: 2. 337-347.