1. Minjingu phosphate rock applications increase the population of phosphate solubilising microorganisms with a positive impact on crop yields in a Kenyan Ferralsol
- Author
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Laetitia Herrmann, John Robert Okalebo, Boaz Waswa, Keziah Wairimu Ndung'u-Magiroi, André Bationo, Didier Lesueur, C. O. Othieno, Kenya Agricultural Research Institute, University of Eldoret (UoE), Tropical Soil Biology and Fertility Institute of CIAT (TSBF), International Center for Tropical Agriculture [Colombie] (CIAT), Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research [CGIAR] (CGIAR)-Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research [CGIAR] (CGIAR), International Center for Tropical Agriculture [Kenya] (CIAT), Action for Integrated Rural Development, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology [GHANA] (KNUST), Ecologie fonctionnelle et biogéochimie des sols et des agro-écosystèmes (UMR Eco&Sols), Institut national d’études supérieures agronomiques de Montpellier (Montpellier SupAgro), Institut national d'enseignement supérieur pour l'agriculture, l'alimentation et l'environnement (Institut Agro)-Institut national d'enseignement supérieur pour l'agriculture, l'alimentation et l'environnement (Institut Agro)-Centre international d'études supérieures en sciences agronomiques (Montpellier SupAgro)-Centre de Coopération Internationale en Recherche Agronomique pour le Développement (Cirad)-Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD)-Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique (INRA), Tropical Soil Biology and Fertility Institute of CIAT, Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR), International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT), and Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique (INRA)-Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD)-Centre de Coopération Internationale en Recherche Agronomique pour le Développement (Cirad)-Centre international d'études supérieures en sciences agronomiques (Montpellier SupAgro)-Institut national d’études supérieures agronomiques de Montpellier (Montpellier SupAgro)
- Subjects
P33 - Chimie et physique du sol ,Minjingu phosphate rock ,[SDV]Life Sciences [q-bio] ,Population ,PCR–DGGE ,Soil Science ,Biology ,Rhizobacteria ,Fungal and bacterial diversity ,Soil management ,03 medical and health sciences ,chemistry.chemical_compound ,education ,2. Zero hunger ,0303 health sciences ,education.field_of_study ,030306 microbiology ,Crop yield ,fungi ,P34 - Biologie du sol ,food and beverages ,04 agricultural and veterinary sciences ,Mineralization (soil science) ,15. Life on land ,Phosphate ,6. Clean water ,F61 - Physiologie végétale - Nutrition ,Phosphorite ,Agronomy ,chemistry ,040103 agronomy & agriculture ,0401 agriculture, forestry, and fisheries ,Phosphate solubilising bacteria ,Soil fertility ,Agronomy and Crop Science - Abstract
Soil microbes such as plant growth promoting rhizobacteria play significant roles in the solubilisation of inorganic phosphorus (P), mineralization of organic P and in improving plant P uptake. It is known that phosphate solubilising microorganisms (PSM) populations largely vary depending on the ecosystems, the cropping systems or the soil management. The capacity of Minjingu phosphate rock (PR) to enhance the populations of native PSM under three cereal–legume rotation systems was assessed in the third season of rotation. Triple super phosphate (TSP) was used as a positive control. In comparison to the negative control, application of Minjingu PR increased the total fungal diversity and phosphate solubilising bacteria (PSB) population by 67–90 % while high rates of TSP significantly (p < 0.05) reduced bacterial diversity and populations of PSB by 46–69 %. Minjingu PR also resulted in both crop and legume yields increase (41–104 % compared to the control), which were similar to those obtained with TSP application. Cropping systems incorporating sparingly soluble P sources such as Minjingu PR into soils can stimulate the populations of native PSB and agronomic productivity. They may represent a promising way of minimizing the utilization of mineral P fertilizers.
- Published
- 2014
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