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Research Article Open access CC BY 3.0

Soil Fungal and Bacterial Populations in White Lupin (Lupinus albus) - Maize (Zea mays L) Cropping System Amended With Minjingu Phosphate Rock

Joyce J. Lelei, Richard N. Onwonga

Journal of Agriculture and Ecology Research International · pp. 1–17 · Published 19 Jun 2014

10.9734/JAERI/2014/11036

Abstract

Aims: To determine fungal and bacterial populations under white lupin (Lupinus albus) - maize (Zea mays L) cropping system amended with Minjingu Phosphate Rock (MPR). Study Design: A randomized complete block design with four replicates was used. Treatments were; (i) control i.e. fallow (F) – maize (M) rotation with triple super phosphate fertilizer (TSP) applied (MTSP - F), (ii) fallow - maize rotation with MPR applied (MMPR - F), (iii) white lupin (L) – maize rotation with MPR applied (MMPR - L) and (iv) maize/white lupin intercrop with MPR applied (M/LMPR - F). Place and duration of study: The experiment was conducted in Njoro sub-County, Kenya during the long (LRS) and short rain seasons (SRS) of 2010 and 2011. Methodology: Population of bacteria and fungi were determined at seedling, flowering and maturity stages of crop development by serial dilution plate method (Johnson and Curl, 1972). Results: Significantly higher bacterial population was recorded in MTSP- F at maize seedling and 50% flowering in LRS of 2010 and 2011. At maturity, treatments M/LMPR – F in LRS of 2010 and M/LMPR – F and MMPR- L in LRS of 2011 had significantly higher population. In the SRS of both years, bacterial population was significantly higher in MTSP- F and M/LMPR – F at all sampling periods. In the LRS of 2010, fungal population was significantly higher in MTSP-F at maize seedling and in MTSP- F and M/LMPR – F at 50% flowering and maturity. In the LRS of 2011, fungal population was significantly higher in M/LMPR – F followed by MMPR- L at all maize growth stages. During the SRS of both years fungal population was significantly higher in MMPR- L across all sampling periods. Positive correlation between fungal and bacterial populations was found at termination of experiment. Conclusion: White lupin-maize cropping system with application of MPR increased soil bacterial and fungal population, an indication of improved soil health and hence cropping system sustainability.

Cropping system maize microorganism phosphate rock phosphorus soil health

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