Abstract
Cotton was grown in pots with added phosphogypsum (PG) to evaluate the effect of indigenous arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and phosphogypsum on cotton growth and acquisition of phosphorus (P), potassium (K), calcium (Ca), manganese (Mn), iron (Fe), copper (Cu), and zinc (Zn). AMF isolate was a mixture of Glomus intraradices, Glomus viscosum, and Glomus mosseae previously isolated from a cotton field. Shoot dry biomass was enhanced significantly by both indigenous AMF and PG. Shoot dry biomass and seed cotton yields were enhanced by the AMF and PG combination and even more when PG in compost was added to mycorrhizal plants. P content in AMF with PG and in AMF with PG/compost treated plants was, respectively, 209.3 and 278.7%, significantly higher than control. Acquisition of K, Ca, and micronutrients was significantly enhanced by the combination of AMF and PG. The treatment of AMF with PG/compost induced the highest contents in Mn, Fe, Cu and Zn which were found to be, respectively, 287, 201, 192.8, and 171% higher compared to control. Results indicate that cotton growth responded to indigenous AMF in soils amended with PG. Combination of AMF with PG added in compost can ensure satisfactory benefits for cotton growth in low input, sustainable cropping systems.
