Effects of a Microbial Vetch Fertilizer on the Disease Resistance, Yield, and Quality of Sweet Waxy Corn
This study aimed to address stalk rot in sweet waxy corn while simultaneously decreasing the chemical fertilizer usage without affecting the crop yield. The investigators implemented an innovative approach that integrated disease management with environmentally sustainable agricultural practices by...
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2024-12-01
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| author | Xiangtao Meng Zhuangzhuang Li Han Wu Haiming Duan Li Yu Cheng Zhou Meng Wang Kun Zhang Chaofan Hu Zhangjun Su Haibing Yu |
| author_facet | Xiangtao Meng Zhuangzhuang Li Han Wu Haiming Duan Li Yu Cheng Zhou Meng Wang Kun Zhang Chaofan Hu Zhangjun Su Haibing Yu |
| author_sort | Xiangtao Meng |
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| description | This study aimed to address stalk rot in sweet waxy corn while simultaneously decreasing the chemical fertilizer usage without affecting the crop yield. The investigators implemented an innovative approach that integrated disease management with environmentally sustainable agricultural practices by developing an enhanced microbial vetch fertilizer (MVF). This novel fertilizer was produced through the fermentation of vetch (<i>Vicia villosa</i> var. <i>glabrescens</i>) straw utilizing beneficial strains of <i>Trichoderma</i> and <i>Bacillus</i> species. In vitro experiments demonstrated that the antifungal microbial strains effectively inhibited <i>Fusarium graminearum</i> growth by 46.9% to 64.0%. Subsequent pot trials revealed that MVF application significantly reduced the incidence of stalk rot, resulting in a disease index of 21.2, which was equivalent to control efficacy of 60.2%. Field experiments further demonstrated that applying MVF at 5250 kg·ha<sup>−1</sup> produced optimal ear and grain weights, with the peak grain yield reaching 11,259.7 kg·ha<sup>−1</sup> when combined with 90% of the standard chemical fertilizer regime. This study contributes to the advancement of environmentally sustainable agricultural practices by effectively managing corn stalk rot and improving productivity by using eco-friendly techniques. The MVF shows potential as a biological alternative to boost sweet corn yields and enhance the protective enzyme activity. This study advances the field of sustainable agriculture by introducing eco-friendly techniques that effectively combat corn stalk rot and enhance crop yields. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-5affb98c0bf14804b09e2d2657ba4a8d |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 1424-2818 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-12-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
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| spelling | doaj-art-5affb98c0bf14804b09e2d2657ba4a8d2025-08-20T02:53:29ZengMDPI AGDiversity1424-28182024-12-01161277810.3390/d16120778Effects of a Microbial Vetch Fertilizer on the Disease Resistance, Yield, and Quality of Sweet Waxy CornXiangtao Meng0Zhuangzhuang Li1Han Wu2Haiming Duan3Li Yu4Cheng Zhou5Meng Wang6Kun Zhang7Chaofan Hu8Zhangjun Su9Haibing Yu10College of Agriculture, Anhui Science and Technology University, Chuzhou 233100, ChinaCollege of Agriculture, Anhui Science and Technology University, Chuzhou 233100, ChinaCollege of Agriculture, Anhui Science and Technology University, Chuzhou 233100, ChinaCollege of Agriculture, Anhui Science and Technology University, Chuzhou 233100, ChinaCollege of Agriculture, Anhui Science and Technology University, Chuzhou 233100, ChinaCollege of Agriculture, Anhui Science and Technology University, Chuzhou 233100, ChinaCollege of Agriculture, Anhui Science and Technology University, Chuzhou 233100, ChinaCollege of Agriculture, Anhui Science and Technology University, Chuzhou 233100, ChinaCollege of Agriculture, Anhui Science and Technology University, Chuzhou 233100, ChinaCollege of Agriculture, Anhui Science and Technology University, Chuzhou 233100, ChinaCollege of Agriculture, Anhui Science and Technology University, Chuzhou 233100, ChinaThis study aimed to address stalk rot in sweet waxy corn while simultaneously decreasing the chemical fertilizer usage without affecting the crop yield. The investigators implemented an innovative approach that integrated disease management with environmentally sustainable agricultural practices by developing an enhanced microbial vetch fertilizer (MVF). This novel fertilizer was produced through the fermentation of vetch (<i>Vicia villosa</i> var. <i>glabrescens</i>) straw utilizing beneficial strains of <i>Trichoderma</i> and <i>Bacillus</i> species. In vitro experiments demonstrated that the antifungal microbial strains effectively inhibited <i>Fusarium graminearum</i> growth by 46.9% to 64.0%. Subsequent pot trials revealed that MVF application significantly reduced the incidence of stalk rot, resulting in a disease index of 21.2, which was equivalent to control efficacy of 60.2%. Field experiments further demonstrated that applying MVF at 5250 kg·ha<sup>−1</sup> produced optimal ear and grain weights, with the peak grain yield reaching 11,259.7 kg·ha<sup>−1</sup> when combined with 90% of the standard chemical fertilizer regime. This study contributes to the advancement of environmentally sustainable agricultural practices by effectively managing corn stalk rot and improving productivity by using eco-friendly techniques. The MVF shows potential as a biological alternative to boost sweet corn yields and enhance the protective enzyme activity. This study advances the field of sustainable agriculture by introducing eco-friendly techniques that effectively combat corn stalk rot and enhance crop yields.https://www.mdpi.com/1424-2818/16/12/778microbial vetch fertilizercorn stalk rot<i>Trichoderma harzianum</i><i>Bacillus amyloliquefaciens</i>crop yield |
| spellingShingle | Xiangtao Meng Zhuangzhuang Li Han Wu Haiming Duan Li Yu Cheng Zhou Meng Wang Kun Zhang Chaofan Hu Zhangjun Su Haibing Yu Effects of a Microbial Vetch Fertilizer on the Disease Resistance, Yield, and Quality of Sweet Waxy Corn Diversity microbial vetch fertilizer corn stalk rot <i>Trichoderma harzianum</i> <i>Bacillus amyloliquefaciens</i> crop yield |
| title | Effects of a Microbial Vetch Fertilizer on the Disease Resistance, Yield, and Quality of Sweet Waxy Corn |
| title_full | Effects of a Microbial Vetch Fertilizer on the Disease Resistance, Yield, and Quality of Sweet Waxy Corn |
| title_fullStr | Effects of a Microbial Vetch Fertilizer on the Disease Resistance, Yield, and Quality of Sweet Waxy Corn |
| title_full_unstemmed | Effects of a Microbial Vetch Fertilizer on the Disease Resistance, Yield, and Quality of Sweet Waxy Corn |
| title_short | Effects of a Microbial Vetch Fertilizer on the Disease Resistance, Yield, and Quality of Sweet Waxy Corn |
| title_sort | effects of a microbial vetch fertilizer on the disease resistance yield and quality of sweet waxy corn |
| topic | microbial vetch fertilizer corn stalk rot <i>Trichoderma harzianum</i> <i>Bacillus amyloliquefaciens</i> crop yield |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1424-2818/16/12/778 |
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