Isolation, trapping, and application of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi to increase of phosphorus efficiency, growth, and productivity of soybean under saturated soil culture on acid sulphate soil

This study investigated the effects of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) inoculation and varying phosphorus (P) doses on two soybean cultivars (Tanggamus and Anjasmoro) under saturated soil culture and dry culture conditions in acid sulfate tidal soils. The experiment, conducted in Jambi Province, Indonesia, from May to August 2019, employed a split-split plot design with three factors: AMF inoculation, soybean variety, and phosphorus fertilizer application rates (0, 36, 72, and 108 kg P2O5 ha-1 ). Results showed that AMF inoculation of the Tanggamus variety at 36 kg P2O5 ha-1 improved soil available phosphorus, plant P uptake and content, P uptake efficiency, inoculant relative efficiency, stem diameter, and branch count. This combination also enhanced stover dry weight, accelerated flowering, and harvest age, reduced empty pod count, and improved P use efficiency. The Tanggamus variety at 36 kg P2O5 ha-1 demonstrated improvements in growth parameters and P-related efficiencies. AMF inoculation at 36 kg P2O5 ha-1positively impacted multiple soil and plant characteristics, including available P, P uptake and content, potassium uptake, and various efficiency measures. It also improved yield components such as pod count, 100-seed weight, and seed weight per plot and hectare. Notably, soybean yield in saturated soil culture surpassed that in dry culture, suggesting the potential of this method for addressing challenges in acid-sulfate tidal soils, particularly those with limited P availability and pyrite layers.