Influence of bioproducts and mycorrhizal fungi on the growth and yielding of sweet cherry trees

Abstract

The experiment assessed the influence of various biofertilizers and biostimulants on the growth characteristics of the root system, its colonization by arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and the yielding of sweet cherry trees in field conditions. The experiment, conducted in Pomological Orchard of Research Institute of Horticulture located in Skierniewice during 2011–2014, involved the use of a mycorrhizal substrate, organic fertilizers and biostimulant in randomised block design. The control combination consisted of plants fertilized with mineral fertilizers (NPK). The use of the organic fertilizer BF Ekomix in dose 100 g per tree each year in the spring significantly increased the number of root tips in comparison with the control trees. There was also a tendency for the roots to lengthen and increase their surface area under the influence of this biofertilizer. In addition, the inoculation of roots with the mycorrhizal substrate in dose 200 g per tree per year stimulated the colonization of the roots of sweet cherry trees by arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, which in turn led to improved root growth parameters.