MYCORRHIZAL INOCULATION AND PHOSPHORUS FERTILIZERS TO IMPROVE ONION PRODUCTIVITY IN SALINE SOIL

This study investigated arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) inoculation and phosphorus fertilizer on growth, productivity and quality of onion grown under saline soil conditions. The experiment was conducted in the Experimental Farm of Desert Research Center, Ras Sudr, South Sinai Governorate, Egypt. Egyptian local onion cultivar “Giza 20” was selected. Treatments were: two arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) inoculation treatments [without inoculation (–AMF) and with mycorrhizal inoculation (+AMF)] and four phosphorus supplied treatments (0, 48, 96 and 144 kg P2O5 ha–1). Mycorrhizal inoculation and phosphorus addition affected the plant growth, bulb yield and quality. Morphological traits of plant (height, leaf number, fresh and dry weight), neck diameter, bulb characters (diameter and weight), total soluble sugars (TSS), protein, P content increased, while proline content decreased due to the inoculation of AMF and phosphorus application. Onion inoculated by AMF combined with 96 or 144 kg P2O5 ha–1 gave the highest productivity under saline conditions.