PHOSPHORUS SUPPLY AND TRICHODERMA HARZIANUM APPLICATION METHOD REGULATE MAIZE PHENOLOGY AND VEGETATIVE GROWTH UNDER FIELD CONDITIONS IN PESHAWAR, PAKISTAN

Abstract

Trichoderma spp. may affect root development and nutrient uptake, and phosphorus availability is a significant factor limiting maize growth for many intensively cultivated soils. This field study aimed to examine the effects of different methods of application of Trichoderma harzianum on maize phenology and vegetative traits in graded phosphorus supply. The experiment was designed as a 3 × 4 factorial experiment with three replications in summer 2025 at the Agronomy Research Farm, The University of Agriculture, Peshawar, Pakistan. The treatments included uninoculated control, seed application and soil application of Trichoderma, and application of P at 0, 30, 60 and 90 kg ha-1. The factorial RCBD analysis of variance was employed at the plot level to analyze the data, with blocks, Trichoderma, P and the interaction of both in the model. P was significant for emergence density, days to tasseling, days to silking, leaves plant^-1, leaf area, leaf area index (LAI) and plant height (p < 0.01 each), but not for physiological maturity. The leaf area was higher by 3529 – 4409 cm plant^-1, LAI was higher by 2.47 – 3.41 and the plant height was higher by 181.2 – 192.2 cm than P0 and tasseling and silking of the plants were earlier. The days to emergence, days to tasseling and plant height were significantly influenced by Trichoderma method. The application of soil produced the highest marginal plant height of 191.7 cm which was higher than 182.9 cm for the control. Only a significant interaction between Trichoderma and P was observed for plant height (p = 0.005), which had the highest mean height for P90 + soil applied Trichoderma (194.0 cm). These data suggest P application was the most important factor in canopy development, and the growth responses from soil-applied T. harzianum were reflected best in plant height. It is advisable to have multi-season validation with baseline soil P and inoculum viability measurements prior to making fertilizer substitutions.