Impact of olive pomace wastes and fungicide treatment on indigenous arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi associated with chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) under field conditions

The effect of soil amendment with olive pomace wastes (OPW) on population and root infection of indigenous arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi associated with chickpea has been studied under field conditions. Yield components, phosphorus (P) percentage, AM spore density and root length colonization of AM fungi were recorded. We found that OPW increased biomass, seed yield, and shoot phosphorus concentration of chickpea plants. Our results also indicated that AM fungal spore population and colonization levels were substantially enhanced by the application of OPW. Fungicide applications significantly decreased both spore population and colonization length of AM fungi. We concluded that organic matter amendments potentially increased AM fungal association and hence might increase growth and yield of chickpea plants in the field.