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Influence of improved fallow systems and phosphorus application on arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi symbiosis in maize grown in western Kenya

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Abstract

A field study was carried out on a six-year-old on-farm field trial during long-rains season (April–August) 2003 to investigate the effect of improved fallow systems and phosphorus application on arbuscular mycorrhiza fungi (AMF) symbiosis in maize. The trial comprised of maize rotated with a fast growing leguminous Crotalaria grahamiana fallow and a non-leguminous Tithonia diversifolia fallow for 3 years followed by continuous maize. The experiment was randomized complete block design with three cropping (continuous maize, Crotalaria fallow and Tithonia fallow) systems and two phosphorus levels (0 and 50 kg P/ha). AMF colonization in maize roots, maize yield and macro-nutrients uptake were recorded. Phosphorus applications improved (P < 0.05) early (<8 weeks old maize) AMF colonization, nutrient uptake and maize yield in improved fallow systems. Greater differences due to phosphorus application were noted in maize in Tithonia fallow than in Crotalaria fallow. Following phosphorus application, a positive relationship existed between early AMF colonization and maize yield (r = 0.38), and phosphorus and nitrogen uptake (r = 0.40 and r = 0.43, respectively), demonstrating the importance of phosphorus fertilization in enhancing low-input technologies (improved fallows systems) in phosphorus deficient and acidic soils of western Kenya.

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Acknowledgments

The financial support for this study was provided by the ETH Zurich, secured through its collaboration with ICRAF. We wish thank the technical assistance from staff, colleagues and friends from the International Centre for Research in Agroforestry (ICRAF), Moi University, Kenya Forestry Research Institute (KEFRI), ETH, and National Museums of Kenya (NMK). In particular, Dr. Joyce Jefwa (NMK) for technical advice during the study, Milton (KEFRI) who assisted in generating AMF data and Mathimaran (ETH) for assisting in nutrient analysis of maize samples. We are also grateful to Richard Coe (ICRAF) for guiding in data analysis, and Omondi and his family for permission to use their farm. Lastly we are grateful to Dr. Muchane Muchai (NMK) for critically commenting on earlier version of the manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Botany Department, National Museums of Kenya, P.O. Box 45166, 00100, Nairobi, Kenya

    Mary Nyawira Muchane

  2. World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF), P.O. Box 30677, 00100, Nairobi, Kenya

    Bashir Jama

  3. Kenya Forestry Research Institute (KEFRI), P.O. Box 40246, 00100, Nairobi, Kenya

    David Odee & Joseph Machua

  4. Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH) Zurich, Eschikon 33, 8315, Lindau, Switzerland

    Jan Jansa

  5. Department of Soil Science, Moi University, P.O. Box 1125, Eldoret, Kenya

    Caleb Othieno & Robert Okalebo

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  1. Mary Nyawira Muchane
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  2. Bashir Jama
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Correspondence to Mary Nyawira Muchane.

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Muchane, M.N., Jama, B., Othieno, C. et al. Influence of improved fallow systems and phosphorus application on arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi symbiosis in maize grown in western Kenya. Agroforest Syst 78, 139–150 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10457-009-9249-3

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