The use of pesticide, although increases agricultural yield and improves public health is also fraught
with a number of ecologic, agronomic and health concerns. This research investigated the impact of an
ex-situ
mycostimulation of one of the
in-situ soil fungi on some agronomic characters and yield of
Talinum fruticosum planted
on a herbicide treated soil. Experimental site was laid out in a 3×8 Randomised Complete Block Design (RCBD).
Amongst other fungal species found in the soil,
Paecilomyces variotii
was selected for multiplication and reintroduction
to the field 96 hours after the application of glyphosate and 48 hours after the transfer of
T. fruticosum from
the nursery. Data on agronomic parameters were taken between the 1 – 6 weeks after planting (WAP) while data on the
biomass yield (kgha
-1) was taken (on harvesting) at 6 WAP. Data were mean values from 8 replicates and analysed using
the statistical package IBM SPSS version 20. Mean values were separated for statistical significance at 95% confidence
interval, using the Least Significant Difference (LSD). The results showed that the Treatments had significant (P<0.05)
effects on height of plants, density of plants, size of leaves and internode spacing at the different WAP as well as the
biomass and yield of
Talinum at 6 WAP. The results obtained from the present study thus further reaffirm the crucial
role of fungi as nature’s original recyclers. If properly managed and stimulated, fungi can contribute significantly to
improving soil health, thus improving food security in a sustainable manner.
