Growth and iron nutrition of broccoli (Brassica oleracea L. var. italica Plenck), grown in a Typic Ustochrept, as influenced by vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in the presence of pyrite and farmyard manure

Abstract

Greenhouse experiments were conducted using potted soil (Fe-deficient Typic Ustochrept) to study the influence of the vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (VAM), Glomus macrocarpum and G. fasciculatum, on the mobilisation of Fe in broccoli (Brassica oleracea L. var. italica Plenck) in the presence of pyrite and farmyard manure (FYM). Individual applications of either VAM or pyrite with NPK fertiliser significantly enhanced both the Fe²⁺ content in leaf tissue and total uptake of Fe and resulted in increased curd and straw yields of broccoli compared to those observed with NPK alone. Though the application of FYM decreased the Fe²⁺ content in leaf tissue relative to plants supplied NPK alone, this result was not statistically significant. The available Fe content in soil, after harvest of broccoli, was found to be lower in the presence of VAM than in the control.