Improving soil fertility through dual inoculation with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and Rhizobium on a eutric cambisol cultivated with forage legumes in a semi-arid region

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dc.contributor.authorMpongwana, Sanele
dc.contributor.authorManyevere, Alen
dc.contributor.authorMupangwa, Johnfisher
dc.contributor.authorMpendulo, Conference Thando
dc.contributor.authorMashamaite, Chuene Victor
dc.date.accessioned2025-11-14T14:00:31Z
dc.date.available2025-11-14T14:00:31Z
dc.date.issued2024
dc.descriptionThe present study assessed the effect of AMF and Rhizobium inoculation on soil chemical properties in field-grown forage legumes in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa. It is hypothesized that the application of AMF and Rhizobium inoculation will improve soil chemical characteristics
dc.description.abstractThe Sub-Saharan region of southern Africa is characterized by high temperatures, low rainfall, and poor land-use management practices such as continuous cropping without replenishment of soil nutrients. The combination of these factors has resulted in nutrient depletion and land degradation. The current study aimed at investigating the effect of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and Rhizobium bacteria inoculation on soil chemical properties in field-grown forage le gumes, namely, Mucuna pruriens (mucuna), Lablab purpureus (lablab) and Vigna unguiculata (cowpea), in the semi-arid region of the Eastern Cape Province (South Africa). Forage legumes were inoculated with the AMF species Paraglomus occulum and the Rhizobia bacteria species Bradyrhizobium strain and grown for 120 days. Soil samples were collected in the following sequence: prior to planting, before flowering and after harvesting the forage legumes in each of the two seasons (2017/2018 and 2018/2019) and soil chemical properties were determined using standard procedures. The results showed that the addition of dual inoculation over time greatly improved soil chemical properties when compared to the control treatment. This was advocated by the significant (P ≤ 0.05) increase in soil pH, soil organic carbon, soil organic matter, total nitrogen, phosphorus, calcium, potassium, magnesium, sodium, sulfur and iron in soils. The concentration of cation exchange capacity was significantly (P ≤ 0.05) higher in cowpea treated with Rhizobium as compared to other treatment combinations. The control treatment of mucuna forage greatly improved the concentrations of manganese, boron, copper, molybdenum, and zinc over other treatment combinations only before the flowering stage. However, the concentrations of micronutrients were significantly higher on the treatment combination of lablab and single inoculation of AMF after harvesting. Generally, dual inoculation with AMF and Rhizobia enhanced soil properties when compared to a single inoculation or untreated control
dc.identifier.urihttps://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e24817
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/11070/4187
dc.language.isoen
dc.publisherScienceDirect
dc.subjectArbuscular mycorrhizal fungi
dc.subjectBiofertilization
dc.subjectLegumes
dc.subjectChemical properties
dc.subjectRhizobium
dc.subjectNamibia
dc.subjectUniversity of Namibia
dc.titleImproving soil fertility through dual inoculation with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and Rhizobium on a eutric cambisol cultivated with forage legumes in a semi-arid region
dc.typeArticle
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