Mycostimulation in a glyphosate treated arable soil: implications on the yield and agronomic characters of <i>Talinum fruticosum</i> (L.) Juss

Abstract

The use of pesticide, although increases agricultural yield and improves public health is also fraught with a number of ecologic, agronomic and health concerns. This research investigated the impact of an ex-situ mycostimulation of one of the in-situ soil fungi on some agronomic characters and yield of Talinum fruticosum planted on a herbicide treated soil. Experimental site was laid out in a 3×8 Randomised Complete Block Design (RCBD). Amongst other fungal species found in the soil, Paecilomyces variotii was selected for multiplication and reintroduction to the field 96 hours after the application of glyphosate and 48 hours after the transfer of T. fruticosum from the nursery. Data on agronomic parameters were taken between the 1 – 6 weeks after planting (WAP) while data on the biomass yield (kgha^-1) was taken (on harvesting) at 6 WAP. Data were mean values from 8 replicates and analysed using the statistical package IBM SPSS version 20. Mean values were separated for statistical significance at 95% confidence interval, using the Least Significant Difference (LSD). The results showed that the Treatments had significant (P<0.05) effects on height of plants, density of plants, size of leaves and internode spacing at the different WAP as well as the biomass and yield of Talinum at 6 WAP. The results obtained from the present study thus further reaffirm the crucial role of fungi as nature’s original recyclers. If properly managed and stimulated, fungi can contribute significantly to improving soil health, thus improving food security in a sustainable manner. 

Keywords: Mycoaugmentation, herbicide, Talinum fruticosum, Paecilomyces variotti, Soil health.