Integration of Commercial Microbiological Products into Soil Fertility Practices as a Potential Option for Acclimatization and Growth of TC Banana in Kenya

Agnes Mumo Kavoo-Mwangi, Esther M. Kahangi, Elijah Ateka, Justus Onguso, Joyce M. Jefwa

Crop Science Department, School of Agriculture and Biotechnology, Karatina University, Karatina, Kenya; Department of Horticulture, School of Agriculture, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, Nairobi, Kenya; Tropical Soil Biology and Fertility Institute of the International Centre for Tropical Agriculture (TSBF-CIAT), Nairobi, Kenya.
Department of Horticulture, School of Agriculture, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, Nairobi, Kenya.
Tropical Soil Biology and Fertility Institute of the International Centre for Tropical Agriculture (TSBF-CIAT), Nairobi, Kenya.

DOI: 10.4236/ojss.2014.48028                

Abstract

Tissue culture (TC) banana plantlets at the in vitro stage are delicate and devoid of microbes and nutrients that are essential for establishment and subsequent growth. Some microbes are known for function best under certain soil threshold levels of macro and micronutrients and have been associated with growth and performance of TC banana. A green house and field study was conducted to evaluate the effect of combining two commercial biological products [Rhizatech and ECO-T (mycorrhiza and Trichoderma based products, respectively)] with various sources of nitrogen and phosphorous including Mavuno, Minjingu phosphate rock, Calcium Ammonium Nitrate (CAN), manure and diammonium phosphate (DAP) on growth and performance of TC banana in Vertisol and Rhodic Ferralsol soil conditions. Tissue culture plants were initially inoculated with Rhizatech and ECO-T at the acclimatization stage and subsequently at the beginning of the potting stage and field establishment. Addition of nutrient sources was also done at the same stages of plant growth by mixing with the soil substrates prior to planting. The performance of plants was significantly (at p ≤ 0.05) affected by the combinations of nutrient sources depending on the soil type and stage of plant development. The growth of plants in the Vertisol increased with Trichoderma combined with either organic manure, DAP or combined with a macro and micro nutrient source (Mavuno) as compared to the sole application of Trichoderma. Performance of plants treated with combination of mycorrhiza and either Mavuno and minjigu rock phosphate was consistently higher in the Rhodic Ferralsol than either mycorrhiza alone or fertilizer alone. This indicates that TC plants could highly benefit from combined application of microbiological products and inorganic and organic fertilizers. However, a prior knowledge of the product’s microbial formulation and prevailing soil conditions is essential for optimizing the potential benefits of integrating microbe-based product with inorganic and organic fertilizers.

Keywords

Microbiological Products, Soil Fertility Practices, Integration, Tissue Culture Banana, Growth and Performance

1. Introduction

Tissue culture banana plantlets offer an excellent means for providing pestand disease-free planting material to farmers [1] [2] . However, tissue culture (TC) plants are fragile, devoid of food reserves and therefore more prone to shock, which may lead to loss of plantlets at establishment. With decline in soil fertility and increase in soilborne pests and diseases, TC plants are likely to succumb to disease and roots may not establish well in low fertility soil environments [3] .

Banana requires large amounts of nitrogen and potassium followed by phosphorus, calcium and magnesium to maintain high yields [4] [5] . To fulfill the plant demand for nutritional attributes, it is essential to apply those elements in the soil which mostly come from inorganic chemical sources. The increased use of chemical fertilizer is undesirable because its production is an energetically costly process and considerable pollution is caused through both the production and use of mineral N-fertilizers. This is exacerbated by the relatively low efficiency of their uptake by the plants due to non-extensive root system and may also delete soil organic matter in the long term [6] -[8] . Inoculant biofertilizers are more environmentally sound and their introduction in agricultural production systems could be one of the means to mitigate the onset of global warming as well as the reduction in fertilizer input costs, prevent depletion of organic matter and increase crop yields [9] -[11] .

Inoculation of tissue culture banana with biofertilizers such as mycorrhiza (AMF) and Trichoderma has been reported to stimulate root growth, nutrient uptake, enhance plant establishment and increase growth, yield and protection against disease and pest infestation [12] -[16] . The growth vigor acquired by biologically inoculated TC banana plants under nursery conditions is expected to give the plants an advantage during field establishment especially in nutritionally and disease challenged soils. However, the functionality of some of the rhizospheric microbes used for constituting biofertilizers such as mycorrhiza (AMF) and Trichoderma is greatly influenced by the prevailing soil conditions. Nitrogen (N), phosphorous (P) and other nutrients such as zinc, copper and sulphur levels in the soil affect the functioning of these microorganisms [17] -[21] . Mycorrhizal symbiosis benefits, for example, have been suggested to be optimal at P levels of 50 mg∙kg⁻¹ [21] .

Organic and inorganic fertilizers are used primarily to increase nutrient availability and the type or amount of fertilizer added to soil could directly affect the function performed by the various microbial groups in the soil [22] . Mineral nutrition is essential for growth, sporulation and stimulation of fungal secondary metabolism [18] and combining of mineral and bio fertilizers could greatly benefit both the added microbes and inoculated plant as well as improve soil quality [11] [23] -[25] .

Previous studies have focused on the effect of long term fertilization on indigenous microbial diversity and efficiency [26] [27] but little is reported on the effect of combining commercial microbiological strains with fertilizers in nutrient poor soils that have little or no history of fertilization.

Although several formulations of mycorrhiza and Trichoderma are available in the market, their efficacy on plant growth is variable depending on the soil nutrient levels. It is therefore essential to add these nutrients in levels that enable optimal functioning of the micro-organisms and consequent promotion of nutrient uptake and plant growth. The integration of microbiological products with fertilizers could address the soil fertility constraint faced by TC banana plantlets, especially under field conditions. This study focused on evaluating the potential of integrating microbiological products with inorganic and organic fertilizers on growth and performance of tissue cultured banana in Vertisol and Rhodic Ferralsol soil conditions under nursery and field conditions.

2. Materials and Methods

2.1. Source of Tissue Cultured Materials, Soil Properties and Inoculation Process

Tissue culture banana plantlets cv. Gros Michel, were obtained from Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT) Biotechnology laboratory.

The experimental soils (Vertisol and Rhodic Ferralsol) were sampled from two banana growing regions in Kenya namely, Western Kenya (Bondo) and Coastal Kenya (Kilifi) (Table 1) at a depth of 0 - 20 cm and used for hardening and potting of tissue culture plantlets. Soil nutrient composition (Nitrogen, Phosphorous, Potassium, Carbon, Magnesium, Calcium, Sodium), Cation Exchange Capacity (CEC), pH and soil texture composition (% Clay, % Sand and % Silt) were determined according to standard procedures [28] [29] . The initial soil characteristics are described in Table2

2.2. Green House Experiment

A 2 × 2 × 3 factorial experiment comprising of 1) two microbiological products a) Rhizatech b) ECO-T; 2) soil substrates a) Vertisol (sampled from Western Kenya-Bondo) b) Rhodic Ferralsol (sampled from coastal Kenya-Kilifi) and; 3) Fertilizers a) Minjingu phosphate rock (MPR) and CAN as sources of phosphorous (P), Mg, Ca and eight more essential micronutrients (Mwaluko, 1996) and nitrogen (N), b) Mavuno as a source of N, P, potassium (K) and micronutrients such as calcium Ca, Mg, sulphur (S) and other essential micronutrients including boron (B), manganese (Mn), zinc (Zn), molybdate (Mo) and copper (Cu) c) manure and diammonium phosphate (DAP) as a source of P, N and carbon (C). Three replicates consisting of 16 plants per replicate were considered per treatment. Control experimental units (without product addition) were also included with three replicates per soil. The experimental units were arranged in a completely randomized design under greenhouse conditions. The microbiological products are described in Table3 Application of products was done as recom

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

References

[1]	Mink, G.I. (1991) Controlling Virus Diseases Using Disease-Free Stocks. In: Pimental, D., Ed., Handbook of Pest Management in Agriculture, 2nd Edition, CRC Press, Boca Raton, 1, 363-391.
[2]	Mbaka, J.N., Mwangi, M. and Mwangi, M.N. (2008) Banana Farming as a Business: The Role of Tissue Culture Planting Materials. Journal of Applied Biosciences 9, 354-361. www.biosciences.elewa.org
[3]	Cassalls, A.C. and O’Herlihy, E.A. (2003) Disease Management of Micropropagated Plants, Good Laboratory Practice. Acta Horticulturae, 616, 105-114.
[4]	Abdullah, M.Y., Hassan, Z.M. and Talib Z. (1999) Trend in Foliar Nutrient Concentrations and Contents and Its Implication on Leaf Area Index Development and Yield in Banana Cultivar “Berangan”. In: Zakaria, W., Mahmud, T.M.M., Siti Khalijah, D., Nor Aini, M.F. and Marziah, M., Eds., Proceedings of First National Banana Seminar, Awana, 95-105.
[5]	Robinson, J.C. (1996) Bananas and Plantains. CAB International, Wallinford, 172-174.
[6]	Khan, S.A., Mulvaney, R.L., Ellsworth, T.R. and Boast, C.W. (2007) The Myth of Nitrogen Fertilization for Soil Carbon Sequestration. Journal of Environmental Quality, 36, 1821-1832. http://dx.doi.org/10.2134/jeq2007.0099
[7]	Ladha, J.K., de Brujin, F.J. and Malik, K.A. (1997) Introduction Assessing Opportunities for Nitrogen Fixation in Rice a Frontier Project. Plant and Soil, 194, 1-10. http://dx.doi.org/10.1023/A:1004264423436
[8]	Ladha, J.K. and Reddy, P.M. (1995) Extension of Nitrogen Fixation to Rice: Necessity and Possibilities. Geo Journal, 35, 363-372.
[9]	Mia, M.A. and Shamsuddin, Z.H. (2010) Rhizobium as a Crop Enhancer and Biofertilizer for Increased Cereal Production. African Journal of Biotechnology, 9, 6001-6009.
[10]	Kennedy, I.R., Choudhury, A.T.M.A. and Kecskés, M.L. (2004) Non-Symbiotic Bacterial Diazotrophs in Crop-Farming Systems: Can Their Potential for Plant Growth Promotion Be Better Exploited? Soil Biolology and Biochemistry, 36, 1229-1244. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.soilbio.2004.04.006
[11]	Jeyabal, A. and Kuppuswamy, G. (2001) Recycling of Organic Wastes for the Production of Vermicompost and Its Response in Rice-Legume Cropping System and Soil Fertility. Europian Journal of Agronomy, 15, 153-170. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S1161-0301(00)00100-3
[12]	Reino, J.L., Guerrero, R.F., Hernandez-Galan, R. and Collado, I.G. (2008) Secondary Metabolites from Species of the Biocontrol Agent Trichoderma. Phytochemistry Review, 7, 89-123. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11101-006-9032-2
[13]	Rodriguez-Romero, A.S., Guerra, M.S. and Jaizme-Vega, M.D. (2005) Effect of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi and Rhizobacteria on Banana Growth and Nutrition. Agronomy for Sustainable Development, 25, 395-399. http://dx.doi.org/10.1051/agro:2005039
[14]	Benítez, T., Rincón, A.M., Limón, M.C. and Codón A.C. (2004) Biocontrol Mechanisms of Trichoderma Strains. International Journal of Microbiology, 7, 249-60.
[15]	Harman, G.E., Howell, C.R., Viterbo, A., Chet, I. and Lorito, M. (2004) Trichoderma Species Opportunistic, Avirulent Plant Symbionts. Nature Reviews Microbiology, 2, 43-56. http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/nrmicro797
[16]	Jaizme-Vega, M.C., Sosa Hernández, B. and Hernández Hernández, J.M. (1998) Interaction of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi and the Soil Pathogen Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense on the First Stages of “Grande Naine” Banana. Acta Horticulturae, 490, 285-295.
[17]	Okoth, S., Roimen, H., Mutsotso, B., Muya, E. and Okoth, P. (2007) Land Use Systems and Distribution of Trichoderma Species in Embu Region, Kenya. Tropical and Subtropical Agroecosystems, 7, 105-122.
[18]	Griffin, D.H. (1994) Fungal Physiology. 2nd Edition, Wiley-Liss, New York.
[19]	Score, A.J. and Palfreyman, J.W. (1994) Biological Control of the Dry Rot Fungus Serpula lacrymans by Trichoderma Species. International Biodeterioration and Biodegradation, 33, 115-128. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/0964-8305(94)90031-0
[20]	Fargasova, A. (1992) The Influence of Various Nitrogen Sources on the Growth, Conidiation and Pigmentation Production of the Brown Mutant of Trichoderma viridae M-108. Biology, 47, 453-464.
[21]	Schubert, A. and Hayman, D.S. (1986) Plant Growth Responses to Vesicular-Arbuscular Mycorrhiza XVI. Effectiveness of Different Endophytes at Different Levels of Soil Phosphate. New Physiologist, 103, 79-90. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1469-8137.1986.tb00598.x
[22]	Marschner, P. and Baumann, K. (2003) Changes in Bacterial Community Structure Induced by Mycorrhizal Colonization in Split-Root Maize. Plant and Soil, 251, 279-289. http://dx.doi.org/10.1023/A:1023034825871
[23]	Javaid, A. (2009) Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Mediated Nutrition in Plants. Journal of Plant Nutrition, 32, 1595-1618. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/01904160903150875
[24]	Atul-Nayyar, A., Hamel, C., Hanson, K. and Germida, J. (2009) The Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Symbiosis Links N Mineralization to Plant Demand. Mycorrhiza, 19, 239-246. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00572-008-0215-0
[25]	Bedini, S., Avio, L., Argese, E. and Giovannetti, M. (2007) Effects of Long-Term Land Use on Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi and Glomalin-Related Soil Protein. Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment, 120, 463-466. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.agee.2006.09.010
[26]	Hijri, I., Sykorova, Z., Oehl, F., Ineichen, K., Mäder, P., Wiemken, A. and Redecker, D. (2006) Communities of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi in Arable Soils Are Not Necessarily Low in Diversity. Molecular Ecolology, 15, 2277-2289. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-294X.2006.02921.x
[27]	Mäder, P., Fliessbach, A., Dubois, D., Gunst, L., Fried, P. and Niggli, U. (2002) Soil Fertility and Biodiversity in Organic Farming. Science, 296, 1694-1697.
[28]	Anderson, J.M. and Ingram, J.S. (1993) Tropical Soil Biology and Fertility: Handbook of Methods. CAB International, Wallingford.
[29]	Okalebo, J.R., Gathna, K.W. and Woomer, P.L. (2002) Laboratory Methods for Soil and Plant Analysis. A Working Manual. 2nd Edition, Tropical Soil Fertility and Biology Program, TSBF-CIAT and SACRED Africa, Nairobi, 128 p.
[30]	Kavoo-Mwangi, A.M., Kahangi, E.M., Ateka, E., Onguso, J., Mukhongo, R.W., Mwangi, E.K. and Jefwa, J.M. (2013) Growth Effects of Microorganisms Based Commercial Products Inoculated to Tissue Cultured Banana Cultivated in Three Different Soils in Kenya. Applied Soil Ecology, 64, 152-162. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.apsoil.2012.12.002
[31]	SAS Institute Inc. (2006) SAS User’s Guide: Statistics. SAS Institute Inc., Cary.
[32]	Widden, P., Cunningham, J. and Breil, B. (1989) Decomposition of Cotton by Trichoderma Species: Influence of Temperature, Soil Type, and Nitrogen Level. Canadian Journal of Microbiology, 35, 469-473. http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/m89-072
[33]	FAO (2006) World Agriculture towards 2030/50. Interim Report, FAO, Rome. http://www.fao.org/es/esd/gstudies.htm
[34]	Gianinazzi, S., Gollotte, A., Binet, M.N., van Tuinen, D., Redecker, D. and Wipf, D. (2010) Agroecology: The Key Role of Arbuscular Mycorrhizas in Ecosystem Services. Mycorrhiza, 20, 519-530. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00572-010-0333-3
[35]	Barea, J.M., Azcon, R. and Azcon-Aguilar, C. (1983) Interactions between Phosphate Solubilizing Bacteria and VA Mycorrhiza to Improve Plant Utilization of Rock Phosphate in Non-Acidic Soils. 3rd International Congress on Phosphorus Compounds, Brussels, 4-6 October 1983, 127-144.
[36]	Liu, A., Hamel, C., Hamilton, R.I., Ma, B.L. and Smith, D.L. (2000) Acquisition of Cu, Zn, Mn, and Fe by Mycorr-Hizal Maize (Zea mays L.) Grown in Soil at Different P and Micronutrient Levels. Mycorrhiza, 9, 331-336. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s005720050277
[37]	Javaid, A. (2011) Effects of Biofertilizers Combined with Different Soil Amendments on Potted Rice Plants. Chilean Journal of Agricultural Resources, 71, 157-163. http://dx.doi.org/10.4067/S0718-58392011000100019
[38]	Toro, M., Azcón, R. and Barea, J.M. (1997) Improvement of Arbuscular Mycorrhiza Development by Inoculation of Soil with Phosphate-Solubilizing Rhizobacteria to Improve Rock Phosphate Bioavailability (32P) and Nutrient Cycling. Applied and Environmental Microbiology, 63, 4408-4412.
[39]	Smith, S.E. and Read, D.J. (2008) Mycorrhizal Symbiosis. 3rd Edition, Elsevier Academic Press, Amsterdam, 787.