Effect of biochar rates on A-mycorrhizal fungi performance and maize plant growth, Phosphorus uptake, and soil P availability under calcareous soil conditions

A pot experiment was carried out to identify the effect of biochar rates on the performance of Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) Rhizoglomus irregularis and the growth and phosphorus (P) uptake of maize (Zea mays L.) plants under calcareous soil conditions. Eight integration treatments, four biochar rates (zero (control) (B0), 5 (B1), 7.5 (B2), 10 g biochar/kg soil (B3)), and two AMF inoculations (untreated (NM) and inoculated with AMF (M)) were arranged in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with 5 replicates. The results showed that biochar had a positive effect on the growth of maize, P uptake, and available P in soil. It was also found that this positive effect of biochar increases with increasing rates, but it was found that there were no significant differences between the two highest rates of biochar B2 and B3. Plants treated with AMF had an influential role in the maize growth and its elemental content of P, as well as increasing the availability of P in soil. However, it was found that biochar reduces the effect of AMF but does not completely discourage the activity of AMF. Therefore, it is recommended that under the same circumstances of this experiment, using a rate B2 of biochar and treated with AMF which having the highest maize plant growth and its elemental P content.