Phosphate fertilizers coated with phosphate-solubilising Trichoderma harzianum increase phosphorus uptake and growth of Zea mays

Enriching phosphorus (P) fertilizers with phosphate-solubilizing microorganisms (PSM) can be a promising strategy to enhance P-use efficiency in agriculture. However, the effects of these microorganisms when applied in mixtures or coating P fertilizers needs further investigation. In this work, we coated a Rock Phosphate (RP) or soluble P fertilizer (Triple Superphosphate -TS) with Trichoderma harzianum, to enhance plant P uptake and growth of corn (Zea mays).

The addition of T. harzianum to RP and TS reduced soil pH and increased the activity of soil acid and alkaline phosphatases which are important mechanisms involved in P mobilization by PSM. Trichoderma harzianum increased plant root length, root surface area and total root dry mass (17%). Trichoderma harzianum also increased plant P content (34%) and total dry matter content (22%) of plants fertilized with soluble phosphate (TS).

Our main findings provide evidence that coating fertilizers with T. harzianum can be an effective way to enhance plant growth and P-use efficiency in agricultural systems. Importantly, we show that joint application with fertilizer did not impair important mechanisms of P mobilization by T. harzianum. Further research, in the field and under different environmental conditions, is necessary to validate the technology.