Effect of bioinoculants and superphosphate fertilizer on the growth and yield of broccoli (Brassica oleracea L. var. italica Plenck)

Figures & data

Table 1 Efficacy of bioinoculants and superphosphate doses on mycorrhization of broccoli.

Superphosphate concentration (g/pot)	Parameters → Treatments ↓	AM spore number/10 g soil	AM root colonization (%)	Mycorrhizal dependency (%)
F1	Control	0^i	0^c	0^g
Half recommended	G	54.0 ± 8.51^d	0^c	70.85 ± 2.95^b
(0.3 g/pot)	A	62.0 ± 6.34^c	7.58 ± 5.21^ab	52.58 ± 5.78^d
	G + Pf	45.4 ± 4.04^e	0^c	51.25 ± 1.68^d
	A + Pf	56.4 ± 6.23^cd	0^c	51.53 ± 4.42^d
	G + A + Pf	76.2 ± 7.29^a	6.32 ± 4.42^ab	78.04 ± 1.50^a
F2	Control	0^i	0^c	0^g
Recommended	G	62.6 ± 8.45^bc	6.49 ± 4.42^ab	62.95 ± 2.91^c
(0.6 g/pot)	A	69.8 ± 10.5^ab	9.99 ± 3.42^a	53.88 ± 7.02^d
	G + Pf	61.2 ± 5.35^cd	6.33 ± 4.42^ab	41.06 ± 6.97^ef
	A + Pf	29.0 ± 3.67^g	0^c	44.27 ± 5.00^e
	G + A + Pf	62.6 ± 4.72^bc	6.21 ± 6.20^ab	36.72 ± 6.80^f
F3	Control	0^i	0^c	0^g
Double recommended	G	30.6 ± 4.33^g	0^c	0^g
(1.2 g/pot)	A	37.8 ± 2.86^f	0^c	0^g
	G + Pf	16.4 ± 3.13^h	0^c	0^g
	A + Pf	19.8 ± 5.76^h	0^c	0^g
	G + A + Pf	20.8 ± 3.42^h	0^c	0^g
ANOVA (F5, 72)	Treatments (t)	228.369	4.824	675.850
(F2, 72)	Fertilizer (F)	214.254	4.767	416.972
(F10, 72)	t × F	23.081	2.033	114.685

Each value is a mean of five replicates ± standard deviation.

A, Acaulospora laevis; AM, arbuscular mycorrhiza; F, superphosphate fertilization; G, Glomus intraradices; Pf, Pseudomonas fluorescens.

Means followed by the same lowercase superscript letter/s within a column are not significantly different from one another (Duncan's multiple range test, P ≤ 0.05).

Table 2 Efficacy of bioinoculants and superphosphate doses on leaf chlorophyll content and root phosphatase activity of broccoli.

Superphosphate concentration (g/pot)	Parameters → Treatments ↓	Chlorophyll a (mg kg^−1 FM)	Chlorophyll b (mg kg^−1 FM)	Alkaline phosphatase (IU/g FW)	Acid phosphatase (IU/g FW)
F1	Control	10 ± 0.0009^c	29 ± 0.002^h	0.049 ± 0.004^i	0.586 ± 0.015^i
Half recommended	G	20 ± 0.0004^b	40 ± 0^g	0.074 ± 0.006^f	0.618 ± 0.008^ef
(0.3 g/pot)	A	10 ± 0.0009^c	49 ± 0.002^e	0.088 ± 0.034^de	0.626 ± 0.009^de
	G + Pf	20 ± 0^b	46 ± 0.005^ef	0.086 ± 0.004^e	0.650 ± 0.010^b
	A + Pf	20 ± 0^b	46 ± 0.005^ef	0.094 ± 0.005^cd	0.624 ± 0.011^de
	G + A + Pf	28 ± 0.0045^a	58 ± 0.004^d	0.102 ± 0.004^b	0.634 ± 0.020^d
F2	Control	10 ± 0.0009^c	30 ± 0^h	0.050 ± 0^i	0.518 ± 0.008^k
Recommended	G	20 ± 0^b	42 ± 0.004^fg	0.078 ± 0.004^f	0.618 ± 0.008^ef
(0.6 g/pot)	A	22 ± 0.0045^b	62 ± 0.004^cd	0.096 ± 0.005^bc	0.636 ± 0.009^cd
	G + Pf	22 ± 0.0045^b	66 ± 0.005^c	0.076 ± 0.005^f	0.668 ± 0.008^a
	A + Pf	28 ± 0.0045^a	78 ± 0.004^b	0.100 ± 0^bc	0.648 ± 0.008^bc
	G + A + Pf	28 ± 0.0045^a	92 ± 0.004^a	0.112 ± 0.004^a	0.654 ± 0.005^b
F3	Control	10 ± 0.0009^c	22 ± 0.004^i	0.052 ± 0.004^i	0.548 ± 0.008^j
Double recommended	G	14 ± 0.0055^c	30 ± 0^h	0.050 ± 0.007^i	0.606 ± 0.005^fg
(1.2 g/pot)	A	22 ± 0.0045^b	34 ± 0.005^h	0.062 ± 0.004^h	0.592 ± 0.005^hi
	G + Pf	12 ± 0.0044^c	30 ± 0^h	0.064 ± 0.005^h	0.584 ± 0.005^i
	A + Pf	20 ± 0^b	34 ± 0.005^h	0.072 ± 0.004^fg	0.596 ± 0.005^gh
	G + A + Pf	20 ± 0^b	40 ± 0^g	0.068 ± 0.004^gh	0.600 ± 0.010^gh
ANOVA (F5, 72)	Treatments (t)	42.758	353.641	121.185	303.196
(F2, 72)	Fertilizer (F)	63.181	114.413	132.135	141.409
(F10, 72)	t × F	11.755	42.884	26.457	20.289

Each value is a mean of five replicates ± standard deviation.

A, Acaulospora laevis; F, superphosphate fertilization; FM, fresh matter; FW, fresh weight; G, Glomus intraradices; IU, international unit; Pf, Pseudomonas fluorescens.

Means followed by the same lowercase superscript letter/s within a column are not significantly different from one another (Duncan's multiple range test, P ≤ 0.05).

Figure 1 Effectiveness of bioinoculants fortified with different levels of superphosphate on broccoli. A, Initial; B, plant height; C, root length; and, D, fruit yield after 120 DAT. F1 = half the recommended; F2 = recommended; F3 = double the recommended fertilizer dose; T1 = control; T2 = G. intraradices; T3 = A. laevis; T4 = G+Pf; T5 = A+Pf; T6 = G+A+Pf.

Table 3 Efficacy of bioinoculants and superphosphate doses on growth parameters of broccoli.

Super phosphate concentration (g/pot)	Parameters → Treatments ↓	Increase in plant height (cm)	Shoot fresh weight (g)	Shoot dry weight (g)	Root length (cm)	Root fresh weight (g)	Root dry weight (g)
F1	Control	41.02 ± 3.67^h	42.42 ± 2.81^ef	3.10 ± 0.23^i	16.76 ± 0.92^ef	1.74 ± 0.59^ef	0.43 ± 0.17^ef
Half recommended	G	69.88 ± 3.30^bc	71.48 ± 4.86^b	8.84 ± 0.73^b	27.52 ± 1.92^bc	4.71 ± 0.50^b	1.60 ± 0.44^b
(0.3 g/pot)	A	54.52 ± 3.89^e	49.08 ± 5.37^de	4.94 ± 0.74^f	19.00 ± 1.01^e	1.67 ± 0.36^ef	0.65 ± 0.18^de
	G + Pf	50.62 ± 3.86^ef	41.02 ± 2.22^f	6.15 ± 0.55^d	24.32 ± 3.57^cd	2.85 ± 0.55^d	0.82 ± 0.12^d
	A + Pf	54.62 ± 5.63^e	55.52 ± 3.63^cd	6.02 ± 0.34^d	22.72 ± 0.95^f	3.87 ± 0.34^c	1.37 ± 0.30^bc
	G + A + Pf	65.24 ± 5.64^cd	67.44 ± 5.02^b	11.01 ± 0.54^b	26.56 ± 3.55^bc	4.47 ± 0.51^b	1.89 ± 0.15^b
F2	Control	42.38 ± 4.87^gh	46.08 ± 3.90^ef	3.16 ± 0.44^i	18.73 ± 1.28^f	1.39 ± 0.19^ef	0.24 ± 0.06^fg
Recommended	G	75.60 ± 4.34^ab	83.10 ± 7.12^a	10.08 ± 0.43^c	34.31 ± 4.33^a	6.24 ± 0.60^a	2.46 ± 0.13^a
(0.6 g/pot)	A	79.14 ± 7.44^a	59.78 ± 9.01^c	5.98 ± 0.52^de	25.83 ± 2.86^bc	3.79 ± 0.25^c	1.14 ± 0.15^c
	G + Pf	62.26 ± 5.40^d	56.68 ± 8.88^cd	5.30 ± 0.37^ef	27.48 ± 2.74^bc	4.84 ± 0.65^b	1.70 ± 0.23^b
	A + Pf	66.44 ± 4.59^cd	88.88 ± 7.20^a	13.8 ± 0.59^a	30.50 ± 4.52^ab	6.82 ± 0.69^a	2.86 ± 0.19^a
	G + A + Pf	69.88 ± 5.45^bc	54.82 ± 5.46^cd	5.02 ± 0.65^f	22.16 ± 2.43^d	3.32 ± 0.37^cd	0.96 ± 0.46^cd
F3	Control	47.74 ± 4.02^ef	39.04 ± 5.63^f	4.74 ± 0.68^f	10.46 ± 2.80^f	1.17 ± 0.33^fg	0.88 ± 0.08^d
Double recommended	G	47.46 ± 7.51^fg	49.62 ± 7.00^de	4.86 ± 0.54^f	21.64 ± 2.30^de	0.97 ± 0.23^g	0.23 ± 0.05^f
(1.2 g/pot)	A	44.42 ± 5.07^fg	41.64 ± 4.91^ef	3.92 ± 0.53^gh	23.28 ± 2.97^cd	1.86 ± 0.11^e	0.61 ± 0.11^de
	G + Pf	48.96 ± 3.78^ef	43.48 ± 3.08^ef	3.77 ± 0.52^hi	25.38 ± 1.47^bc	1.42 ± 0.14^ef	0.57 ± 0.10^e
	A + Pf	46.08 ± 5.64^fg	38.20 ± 4.76^f	3.95 ± 0.61^gh	16.42 ± 3.10^ef	1.24 ± 0.14^fg	0.69 ± 0.11^de
	G + A + Pf	47.34 ± 3.93^fg	41.94 ± 2.88^ef	4.53 ± 0.44^f	25.68 ± 2.88^bc	1.86 ± 0.14^e	0.78 ± 0.09^d
ANOVA (F5, 72)	Treatments (t)	541.078	90.376	934.404	24.389	429.571	66.816
(F2, 72)	Fertilizer (F)	20.886	45.791	214.004	23.606	93.304	67.875
(F10, 72)	t × F	16.421	22.987	82.154	6.455	24.039	31.347

Each value is a mean of five replicates ± standard deviation.

A, Acaulospora laevis; F, superphosphate fertilization; G, Glomus intraradices; Pf, Pseudomonas fluorescens.

Means followed by the same lowercase superscript letter/s within a column are not significantly different from one another (Duncan's multiple range test, P ≤ 0.05).

Table 4 Efficacy of bioinoculants and superphosphate doses on phosphorus and nitrogen content of broccoli.

Super phosphate concentration (g/pot)	Parameters → Treatments ↓	Shoot P (%)	Root P (%)	Shoot N (%)	Root N (%)
F1	Control	0.085 ± 0.003^k	0.023 ± 0.004^j	0.47 ± 0.075^hi	0.39 ± 0.026^ij
Half recommended	G	0.138 ± 0.004^g	0.062 ± 0.004^f	0.92 ± 0.074^e	0.61 ± 0.068^h
(0.3 g/pot)	A	0.128 ± 0.004^h	0.056 ± 0.005^g	1.00 ± 0.066^e	0.71 ± 0.072^g
	G + Pf	0.178 ± 0.004^f	0.096 ± 0.005^c	1.34 ± 0.070^c	1.06 ± 0.078^e
	A + Pf	0.188 ± 0.004^e	0.074 ± 0.005^d	1.58 ± 0.071^c	1.16 ± 0.087^d
	G + A + Pf	0.198 ± 0.004^d	0.106 ± 0.004^b	1.88 ± 0.080^bc	1.47 ± 0.077^c
F2	Control	0.090 ± 0^k	0.030 ± 0^i	0.60 ± 0.139^fg	0.36 ± 0.769^ij
Recommended	G	0.196 ± 0.005^d	0.068 ± 0.004^e	1.02 ± 0.069^e	0.77 ± 0.862^g
(0.6 g/pot)	A	0.206 ± 0.005^c	0.072 ± 0.004^de	1.14 ± 0.184^d	0.88 ± 0.074^f
	G + Pf	0.218 ± 0.004^b	0.098 ± 0.004^c	1.88 ± 0.080^bc	1.63 ± 0.110^b
	A + Pf	0.228 ± 0.004^a	0.108 ± 0.004^b	2.17 ± 0.061^b	2.12 ± 0.108^a
	G + A + Pf	0.268 ± 0.004^m	0.120 ± 0^a	2.45 ± 0.072^a	2.12 ± 0.064^a
F3	Control	0.054 ± 0.005^m	0.024 ± 0.005^j	0.39 ± 0.060^ij	0.30 ± 0.065^j
Double recommended	G	0.098 ± 0.004^j	0.040 ± 0	0.33 ± 0.076^j	0.33 ± 0.076^j
(1.2 g/pot)	A	0.780 ± 0.004^l	0.048 ± 0.004^h	0.50 ± 0.074^gh	0.33 ± 0.078^j
	G + Pf	0.106 ± 0.005^i	0.052 ± 0.004^gh	0.66 ± 0.062^f	0.42 ± 0.099^ij
	A + Pf	0.058 ± 0.004	0.048 ± 0.004	0.53 ± 0.061^gh	0.36 ± 0.076^ij
	G + A + Pf	0.116 ± 0.005^h	0.042 ± 0.004^h	0.70 ± 0.088^f	0.47 ± 0.083^i
ANOVA (F5, 72)	Treatments (t)	2174.935	463.222	1129.066	2336.431
(F2, 72)	Fertilizer (F)	1035.401	696.024	438.979	461.911
(F10, 72)	t × F	479.672	61.493	61.141	76.505

Each value is a mean of five replicates ± standard deviation.

A, Acaulospora laevis; F, superphosphate fertilization; G, Glomus intraradices; N, nitrogen; P, phosphorus; Pf, Pseudomonas fluorescens.

Means followed by the same lowercase superscript letters/s within a column are not significantly different from one another (Duncan's multiple range test, P ≤ 0.05).

Table 5 Efficacy of bioinoculants and superphosphate doses on broccoli fruit yield and quality.

Super phosphate concentration (g/pot)	Parameters → Treatments ↓	No. of days of head initiation	Apical head fresh weight/ plant (g)	Head diameter (cm)	Lateral head fresh weight (g)	Petiole length (cm)	Fruit P (%)	Fruit N (%)	Fruit protein %
F1Half recommended(0.3 g/pot)	Control	<120	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA
	G	<120	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA
	A	82.40 ± 4.61^c	4.60 ± 0.42^c	5.28 ± 0.36^b	3.24 ± 0.23^d	3.92 ± 0.18^b	0.10 ± 0.003^f	0.86 ± 0.074^e	5.34 ± 0.46^f
	G + Pf	87.80 ± 4.21^d	3.50 ± 0.26^d	2.42 ± 0.26^f	2.90 ± 0.09^f	3.24 ± 0.21^d	0.13 ± 0.005^e	1.20 ± 0.077^d	7.51 ± 0.46^d
	A + Pf	88.80 ± 3.70^d	4.50 ± 0.45^c	2.44 ± 0.30^f	3.16 ± 0.09^de	3.58 ± 0.25^c	0.15 ± 0.005^c	1.45 ± 0.068^c	9.06 ± 0.43^c
	G + A + Pf	80.80 ± 4.44^c	4.92 ± 0.32^c	2.92 ± 0.22^e	3.48 ± 0.13^c	4.38 ± 0.29^a	0.14 ± 0.004^d	1.66 ± 0.12^b	10.4 ± 0.73^b
F2Recommended(0.6 g/pot)	Control	<120	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA
	G	65.80 ± 4.32^a	6.94 ± 0.55^bc	5.92 ± 0.23^bc	5.19 ± 0.32^b	4.50 ± 0.20^a	0.14 ± 0.004^d	0.89 ± 0.079^e	5.58 ± 0.49^ef
	A	71.20 ± 7.83^b	10.1 ± 0.70^b	6.20 ± 0.49^a	6.21 ± 0.29^a	4.26 ± 0.19^a	0.15 ± 0.004^c	0.92 ± 0.080^e	5.93 ± 0.75^e
	G + Pf	62.40 ± 4.33^a	23.9 ± 0.27^a	9.12 ± 0.81^b	8.28 ± 0.28^b	5.94 ± 0.53^b	0.13 ± 0.004^e	1.66 ± 0.109^b	10.4 ± 0.68^b
	A + Pf	73.60 ± 7.83^b	18.2 ± 0.27^ab	9.44 ± 0.23^d	3.03 ± 0.14^ef	7.76 ± 0.18^bc	0.17 ± 0.004^a	1.74 ± 0.081^b	10.8 ± 0.50^b
	G + A + Pf	80.00 ± 6.08^c	4.69 ± 0.23^cd	4.72 ± 0.22^cd	3.50 ± 0.23^c	5.90 ± 0.16^b	0.16 ± 0.004^b	2.15 ± 0.043^a	13.4 ± 0.34^a
F3Doublerecommended(1.2 g/pot)	Control	<120	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA
	G	<120	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA
	A	107.2 ± 4.66^e	2.69 ± 0.08^e	3.24 ± 0.22^f	2.51 ± 0.09^g	1.36 ± 0.21^d	0.056 ± 0.005^g	0.47 ± 0.074^f	2.95 ± 0.45^g
	G + Pf	<120	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA
	A + Pf	114.6 ± 2.88^f	2.38 ± 0.11^e	2.84 ± 0.21^g	2.28 ± 0.11^h	0.90 ± 0.26^e	0.048 ± 0.004^h	0.50 ± 0.078^f	3.12 ± 0.46^g
	G + A + Pf	<120	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA
ANOVA (F5, 72)	Treatments (t)	261.068	687.308	838.751	681.723	1939.849	6701.145	1880.610	3147.234
(F2, 72)	Fertilizer (F)	1571.532	323.645	207.609	75.830	261.317	3511.633	820.205	970.963
(F10, 72)	t × F	347.363	200.046	29.590	132.930	99.818	527.691	294.606	309.034

Each value is a mean of five replicates ± standard deviation.

A, Acaulospora laevis; F, superphosphate fertilization; G, Glomus intraradices; N, nitrogen; NA, not applicable; P, phosphorus; Pf, Pseudomonas fluorescens.

Means followed by the same lowercase superscript letter/s within a column are not significantly different from one another (Duncan's multiple range test, P ≤ 0.05).