Enhancing Phosphorus Bioavailability in Maize through Phosphorus Solubilizing Fungi

This study was to explore the beneficial interactive effects of fungal inoculum alone or in conjunction with phosphatic fertilizer on maize (Zea mays L.). We conducted a greenhouse pot experiment in soil which included four treatments such as control, Penecillium oxalicum, Aspergiilus niger, P. oxalicum+ A. niger at three different levels of phosphatic fertilizers (0, 100, and 200 mg kg^-1). The plant height, fresh weight of root/shoot biomass and dry weight of root/shoot biomass and soil chemical properties were recorded. We evaluated the growth parameters of maize and phosphorus (P) uptake in maize were highest in treatment I3 × F2 (Penecillium+Aspergillus+ 200 mg P kg^-1) followed by I2 × F2 (Aspergillus+ 200 mg P kg^-1) over rest of the treatments. The beneficial effect was decreased where alone fertilizer dose was added as compared to those where it was added with the co-inoculation of phosphorus solubilizing fungi (PSF). It was observed that soil pH, total organic carbon and available P significantly changed because of various treatments. Based on these evidences, it could be inferred that increasing the maize growth by fungal culture improves soil P fertility, which is favorable to succeeding crops. Further research is needed to understand the chemistry of co-inoculation of fungal inoculum with phosphatic fertilizer.