Effect of Zeolite Amended Cattle Manure Compost and Mycorrhiza Fungi Inoculation on Growth and Yield of Triticale (X Tritico-secale Wittmack)

One of the basic principles of sustainable agriculture is application of biologic and organic fertilizers in order to reduce chemical inputs consumption and increase soil fertility. Application of manure improves biological activity, physicochemical properties and water holding capacity in soil. Despite these positive effects, increased weed seed bank, outbreak of pests and diseases and accumulation of ammonia in the root of plants are the disadvantages of manure application. Due to the unique attributes of zeolites if they were added at the beginning of composting process can provide ventilatory condition for the activity of aerobic microorganisms and absorbs nutrients, especially nitrogen. Another important solution of improving efficiency of sustainable agriculture ecosystems is use of biofertilizers as the most natural solution to increase biological activity of soil. Symbiosis of plant with mycorrhiza fungi improves nutritional status of plant by increasing water and nutrients absorption. Triticale is a commercial cereal with a vast potential to feed human and animal. This plant can be cultivated in poor soils that are not suitable for wheat production. Finally the aim of this study was to achieve maximum yield of triticale by increasing efficiency of manure compost and simultaneous use of this fertilizer and mycorrhiza.

The experiment was conducted at Research field of Agricultural sciences and Natural Resources University of Khuzestan during 2017-2018. Experimental design was a factorial based on randomized complete block design with four replications. The experimental factors included mycorrhizal application at two levels (application and non-application of mycorrhiza), and mixing of zeolite to manure in six levels (0, 5, 10, 15, 20 and 25% by weight of zeolite manure). The size of each experimental unit was 2×2 m2 and planting density was 400 plants per m2. Before the sowing, biofertilizer were shaken completely to cover the whole seeds surface after which the seeds were shadow-dried and planted, irrigation was done immediately after seed sowing. Traits included plant height, peduncle length, spike length, spikes per square meter, number of grains per spike, 1000 grain weight, grain yield, biological yield and harvest index were assessed in this experiment.

Based on the results, the interaction between mycorrhizal inoculation and mixing of zeolite with cattle manure were significant on plant height, peduncle length, number of grains per spike, 1000 grain weight and grain yield. The main effect of zeolite and mycorrhiza were significant on spike length, number of grains per spike and biological yield. In inoculation condition the most plant height (124.32 cm) was obtained at the level of 10% zeolite, while in non-inoculation condition the highest plant height (106.62) was obtained at the level of 20% zeolite. The number of spikes per square meter at the level of 20% zeolite (456) was 36% higher than the non-use of zeolite treatment (303). Under inoculation conditions, the highest grain yield (3510.7 kg.ha-1) was belonged to application of 10% zeolite and the lowest grain yield (1579.69 kg.ha-1) was gained from non-application of zeolite treatment. In non-inoculation condition compared to the inoculation treatment, more zeolite was needed to obtain high grain yield and by application of zeolite up to 20 percent gain yield increased.

According to results of the present experiment, application of 10% zeolite in manure compost along with mycorrhiza is recommended to increase the yield of triticale. It can be stated that the addition of zeolite to manure and the use of mycorrhiza fungi is a suitable method for achieving high yield in triticale cultivation.