Influence of mycorrhizal fungi and nitrogen on the growth and yield of white maize in Ecuadorian Andes
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Abstract
White maize is a staple food for Andean populations in Ecuador, particularly in rural and impoverished areas. This study aimed to assess the potential impact of mycorrhizae fungi and nitrogen fertilization on the growth and yield of white maize in the Andean conditions of Loja, Ecuador. The field trial was conducted in Loja, Ecuador, using a completely randomized design arranged in a bifactorial scheme. The first factor involved the mycorrhizae inoculation, comprising three doses: 0 (control), 330 and 660 spores per plant of the mycorrhizal fungi. The second factor focused on nitrogen fertilizer, with three doses: 0 (control), 40 and 80 kg ha-1 of nitrogen applied throughout the crop cycle. The combination of mycorrhizal inoculation and nitrogen fertilization promoted plant height and stem diameter: the best results were attained when applying 330 spores per plant of mycorrhizae and 80 kg ha-1 of nitrogen. Independent nitrogen and mycorrhizal application significantly increased the cob number per plant, grain weight and yield, reaching a maximum of 9.9 t ha-1. Notably, mycorrhizae inoculation significantly increased grain nitrogen content by 7 % compared to the control, which suggests its potential to enhance the dietary quality and food security of the Andean population.
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