Department of Soil Science and Irrigation Management

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Browsing Department of Soil Science and Irrigation Management by Subject "Agricultural applications"

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    Influence of microbial inoculants on water use efficiency and yield in a watermelon in rain-fed cropping
    (Kyambogo University(Unpublished work), 2025-10) Mpisa, Isaac
    Smallholder rain fed systems in Uganda are often characterized by low productivity of watermelon crop caused by soil moisture deficits, leading to reduced water use efficiency and lower yields, which threaten food security and farmer’s livelihood. The use of microbial inoculants like Plant Growth Promoting Rhizobacteria and Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi could serve as a tool to improve crop tolerance to water stress. This study was set to determine the influence of microbial inoculants on Water Use Efficiency (WUE) and yield in a watermelon in rain-fed cropping. The study was laid out in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD), with four factorial treatments; PGPR, AMF, PGPR+AMF and a Control, where no amendments were added. The experiment was conducted for two consecutive seasons (Aug-Dec/2022 and Marc-Jul/2023). Application of PGPR significantly (P<0.001) increased WUE compared to control. Also AMF significantly increased WUE. However, watermelon crops treated with combined (AMF& PGPR), recorded the highest mean WUE compared with plots treated with rhizobacteria and mycorrhizal fungi only. There are significant differences in the interactions between the season, soil moisture, WUE and PGPR treatments on yield of watermelon crop under rain fed conditions. However, watermelon crop plots treated with PGPR only, demonstrated the highest significant increase on watermelon mean yield compared to control, and plots treated with AMF only and combined (AMF+PGPR). For water use efficiency farmers are recommended to use a combined application of (AMF+PGPR.). Because their application produced the highest mean water use efficiency compared with watermelon plots treated with AMF and PGPR only. For yield, farmers are recommended to use PGPR inoculants at 10kgs per hectare. Because its treatment produced the highest mean yield of watermelon (fruit weight (tons/ha) compared with watermelon plots treated with AMF only and combined (AMF+PGPR). Further research should focus on investigating dosage rates of AMF which is most effective in rain fed watermelon conditions in Uganda.