Influence of bamboo and sugarcane bagasse biochar and mycorrhizal fungi on growth and nutrient status of cacao (Theobroma cacao L.) in acidic soil
2019
Aggangan, N.S. | Homao-As, J.G.
Combined biochar and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) is a new approach contributing to sustainable plant production and ecosystem restoration especially in acidic soil. This study aimed to determine the growth response of cacao planted in acidic soil amended with biochar from bamboo trimmings (BB) and sugarcane bagasse (BSB). Aseptically germinated cacao (UF18) seedlings were inoculated with AMF inoculant containing 12 species belonging to four genera: Gigaspora, Glomus, Acaulospora, and Entrophospora during pricking placed directly beneath the roots. The experiment was conducted inside a screenhouse following RCBD with 12 replicates. Height increment of AMF and non-AMF inoculated cacao seedlings grown in soil with BB and BSB were comparable while height of those grown in no biochar (No BC) soil were the shortest. Dry weight, spore density, nitrogen uptake and root infection were higher in AMF than the non-AMF counterpart when grown in BB amended soil. Phosphorous uptake of non-AMF cacao grown in No BC, with BB and BSB were comparable to each other. However, mycorrhizal cacao seedlings grown in soil with BB doubled phosphorus (P) uptake relative to those non-AMF grown in BB amended soil. Also, the soil chemical properties were also improved upon the application of both BB and BSB. In conclusion, the results show that the addition of BB and BSB without AMF boost the growth and development potential of cacao seedlings. However, with AMF inoculation, much better growth and development of cacao was observed.
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