Effect of Mycorrhiza Fungi and Seaweed Biofertilizer on Soil Physicochemical Properties Under Deficit Irrigation Conditions in Fenugreek Cultivation

Abstract

To investigate the effect of biofertilizers in reducing the effect of water stress in fenugreek, a factorial experiment was carried out based on randomized complete blocks with three replications of water stress treatments at five levels and biofertilizer at four levels in a pot in the greenhouse. The characteristics of shoot dry weight, water use efficiency, photosynthetic pigments (chlorophyll (a and b), electrical conductivity, pH, aggregate stability, urease enzyme, and acidic and alkaline phosphatase of the soil were investigated. The results showed that under no stress conditions and mycorrhiza fertilizer, the most shoot dry weight, water use efficiency, chlorophyll a, mean diameter weight and urease enzyme were 4.12 g/pot, 0.75 g/l, 13.25 (mg/g leaf wet weight), 0.77 mm and 89.94 (mg/g leaf wet weight), respectively. Mycorrhiza fertilizer under stress conditions increased shoot dry weight, water use efficiency, chlorophyll a, b, soil electrical conductivity, aggregate stability, urease enzyme, and acidic and alkaline phosphatase, while it decreased soil pH compared with not using biofertilizer in these conditions

Keywords

• biological fertilizers
• soil properties
• water stress
• water use efficiency