The Effect of Inoculation with Mycorrhizal and Azospirillum on the Growth and Yield of Strawberries Under Different Irrigation Levels

Abstract

Abstract The aim and objective of the current research are to assess the impact of Mycorrhizal and Azospirillum inoculation on growth and yield of strawberry crops under water stress. The experiment started on 1/9/2022 at College of Agriculture, Tikrit University and it was conducted using potted plants to evaluate the roles of Azospirillum bacteria and Glomus mycorrhizal fungus inoculation on strawberry growth, yield, and resistance to water stress in gypsum soil. Following a split-plot design with two replications, the study examined both primary and secondary effects, taking into account three factors: Azospirillum bacteria inoculation, mycorrhizal fungus, and irrigation, with six repetitions. Each strawberry plant was put into 5 kg pots filled with a soil mixture. Upon planting, irrigated water was bolstered with urea fertilizer (K 20%, P 20%, N 20%). After planting, irrigation was applied under predetermined treatments starting when each pot lost 50% of its initial water by weight. The mycorrhizal fungi inoculation resulted in a marked increase of the dry weight of the treated plants in comparison with the untreated ones. During the initial (initial stage) period, the dry weight increment was 56.71% at 40 days from transplanting, while at full (full maturity) 15.27% at 80 days. Furthermore, the introduction of Azospirillum bacteria demonstrated a noteworthy impact on enhancing dry weight, with a percentage increase of 13.36% at the first stage after 40 days and 9.68% at the full maturity stage after 80 days. The influence of mycorrhizae and Azospirillum bacteria had a noticeable effect on the plant height attribute. The increase in plant height was substantial at 35.51%, with the most favorable outcome observed in the inoculated treatment at an irrigation level of 75%, reaching 22.33. In contrast, the uninoculated treatment measured 12.17 at the same irrigation level. Also, the results showed that a noteworthy increase in fruit weight in plants treated with mycorrhizal fungi compared to non-inoculated plants, showing a percentage increase of 52.96%.