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Copyright of Iraqi Journal of Desert Studies is the property of Republic of Iraq Ministry of Higher Education & Scientific Research (MOHESR) and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

To improve sustainable agriculture it becomes crucial to minimize the use of chemical inputs and involve new practices that are more productive and healthier for humans and environment. Biofertilization with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), known for increasing the productivity of many crops including potatoes, could be considered as one of these sustainable practices. The purpose of this study was to determine whether mycorrhizal inoculation can minimize chemical fertilization for potato (Solanum tuberosum L.), one of the most demanding species in mineral elements. Thus, by studying the effect of chemical fertilization and mycorrhizal inoculant on potato yield and soil quality. Two doses of chemical fertilizer (NP) corresponding to 50 % and 100 % of the recommended dose has been applied in the presence or not of the mycorrhizal inoculant. The results have shown that adding arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in combination with 50 % of the chemical fertilizer dose gives the best effects. A significant increase in yield, root colonization, and P soil content has been observed (P < 0.001). Thus mycorrhizal inoculation could reduce the application of synthetic fertilizers and thus improve yield while preserving the environment.

In order to study the effect of mycorrhiza inoculation and zeolite-enriched manure compost on photosynthetic pigments content and qualitative properties of triticale grain, a factorial experiment in a completely randomized complete block design with four replications were conducted at Research Field of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources University of Khouzestan during 2016-2017 growing season. The experimental factors included mycorrhiza application at two levels (application and non-application of mycorrhiza), and mixing of zeolite to manure in six levels (0, 5, 10, 15, 20 and 25% w/w of zeolite/manure). According to the results, under conditions of mycorrhiza application with increasing zeolite up to 15% leaf greenness index (SPAD) increased but decreased afterwards. The highest chlorophyll a (2.68 mg g-1) was obtained from 15% zeolite treatment and the lowest (1.82 mg g-1) was detected in control. Mycorrhiza inoculation caused a 14% increase in carotenoid content compared to non-inoculation. Grain phosphorus content (0.43 mg kg-1) was increased in mycorrhiza inoculation condition compared to non-inoculation (0.37 mg kg-1). Under inoculation conditions, the highest grain yield (3510.7 kg ha-1) belonged to application of 10% zeolite. Under non-inoculation condition more zeolite was needed (in compare to inoculation treatment) to obtain the highest grain yield .The highest protein yield (329.97 kg ha-1) was obtained from mycorrhiza inoculation treatment with 15% zeolite and the lowest protein yield (1152 kg ha-1) was obtained from mycorrhiza inoculation treatment with 25% zeolite. Finally, the results of this study showed that the application of zeolite in manure and inoculation of mycorrhiza fungi can increase the concentration of photosynthetic pigments and grain quality of triticale. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]