Agriculture is one of the most important factors contributing to the economic growth of Nigeria in the 70s. Nigeria has 75 percent of its land suitable for agriculture, but only 40% is cultivated [1] . Agriculture alters the natural cycling of nutrients in soils. Intensive cultivation and harvesting of crops for human or animal consumption can effectively deplete the soil of essential plant nutrients. To maintain soil fertility for sufficient crop yields, soil amendments are typically required. In the ancient times, farmers nourished their fields with manure (animal dungs), charcoal, ash and lime (CaCO₃) to improve soil fertility [2] .

In order to reap a better harvest, farmers inoculate the soil with fertilizers which comes in two types either chemical or bio-fertilizers. Agricultural fertilizers are essential to enhance proper growth and crop yield. Recently farmers have been using chemical fertilizers for quicker and better yield [3] . The increasingly high inputs of chemical fertilizers, have not only left soils degraded, polluted and less productive but have also posed severe health and environmental hazards. Organic farming methods (such as the use of biofertilizers) would solve these issues and make the ecosystem healthier [4] .

Naturally grown biofertilizers do not only gives a better yield, but are also harmless to humans. Nearly 22 million hectares of land are now cultivated organically. Organic cultivation represents less than 1% of the world’s conventional agricultural production and about 9% of the total agricultural area [5] . There are 17 essential elements required for proper plant growth. The dearth of any of these essential nutrients can result in severe damage to the crop health. Of the mineral elements, primary macronutrients (Nitrogen, Phosphorous and Potassium) are needed in greatest quantities and are in short supplies in agricultural soils [2] [5] . Micronutrients or trace elements are needed in very small amounts and can be toxic to plants in excess. Silicon and Sodium are sometimes considered essential plant nutrients but due to their ubiquitous presence in soils, they are never in short supply [5] [6] .

A biofertilizer is an organic product containing a specific microorganism in concentrate form, which is derived either from plant roots or from the rhizosphere zones of the soils [7] [8] . These bio-inputs or bioinoculants improve plant growth and yield [4] . Biofertilizers contain living cells of different microorganisms that have the ability to mobilize nutritionally important elements from non-usable forms through biological processes. It can also be referred to as any substance containing living microorganism that colonizes in the rhizosphere or the interior of the plant [9] . Biofertilizers have shown great potential as supplementary, renewable and environmentally friendly sources of plant nutrients and are important component of Integrated Nutrient Management (INM) and Integrated Plant Nutrition System (IPNS) [10] .

Biofertilizers play a very significant role in improving soil fertility by fixing atmospheric nitrogen both in association with plant roots and without it, solubilize insoluble soil phosphates and produce plant growth substances in the soil [2] . The incorporation of biofertilizers plays major role of improving soil fertility, yields attributed characters and thereby increased final yield, also increases soil biota. The role and importance of biofertilizers in sustainable crop production has been reviewed by many authors [11] [12] . Application of biofertilizers is the only option to improve soil organic carbon for the sustenance of soil quality and future agricultural productivity [13] . Organic farming is the system of production that tends to skip the use of synthetic fertilizers, pesticides and other additives, but relies heavily on biofertilizers and biopesticides.

Most biofertilizers belong to either nitrogen fixing or phosphate solubilizing microorganisms. Nitrogen fixing microorganisms fixes atmospheric nitrogen to the soils in forms which is readily absorbable by the plants [2] . While phosphate solubilizing microorganisms secretes organic acids which enhance the uptake of phosphorus by the roots of the plants by dissolving rock phosphate in the soils. Others are phosphate mobilizers and zinc solubilizers. These microorganisms include both bacteria (Azotobacter, Azosprillum, Rhizobium etc.) and fungi (mainly mycorrhizal fungi) [2] .

Arbuscular Mycorrhizae (AM) plays a crucial role in plant nutrient uptake, water relations, ecosystem establishment, plant diversity, and the productivity of plants. Mycorrhizae send out extensive networks of fine thread which facilitate uptake of limiting nutrients to include phosphorous, nitrogen, several micronutrients to the plant [14] and are capable of absorbing inorganic P either from the soluble P pools in the soil or from insoluble forms such as rock phosphates via localized pH alterations or by producing organic acid anions which act as chelating agents [15] . Furthermore, AM fungi can also have a direct effect on the ecosystem, as they improve the soil structure and aggregation and drive the structure of plant communities and productivity [3] [4] [16] .

The spore count across the sampling areas ranges from 1.7 × 10⁷ - to 4.1 × 10⁷ with Dass (M1) having the highest count while Darazo (M4) had the least count. Similar range was reported by [2] , who observed spore count ranging from 1.6 × 10⁷ - 3.8 × 10⁷ in the same sampling locations. Spore population within the soil rhizosphere could be attributed to the soil richness, topography and level of disturbance within the sampling locations (Table 1).

Results of this study revealed the effects of mycorrhizae base manure (organic) and inorganic fertilizer on the vegetative growth of rice across the sampling locations. The results show that mycorrhizae-based manure treated rice (M1T1) collected from Dass had the highest plant height (45.33 cm), followed by M3T1, M1T2 and M2T1 with 44.8 cm, 41.47 cm and 41.20 cm respectively. While the least plant height (18.5 cm) was recorded on the inorganic fertilizer treated rice (F4) collected from Darazo. The statistical analysis (MANOVA) revealed significant difference between the mean plant heights across the sampling locations at P ≤ 0.05 = 0.000 (Table 2). This result agrees with the reports of [3] and that of [2] , who observed that organic manure enhances plant height in maize.

Furthermore, the result revealed that mycorrhizae-based manure treated rice M3T1 gotten from Tafawa Balewa had the highest girth diameter of 2.03 cm followed by M7T1, M4T1 and M4T2 with 1.97 cm, 1.87 cm and 1.83 cm respectively. While the least girth diameter of 0.57cm, was observed on the inorganic fertilizer treated rice F4 collected from Darazo. Also, MANOVA revealed significant difference between the mean girth diameter across the sampling locations at P ≤ 0.05 = 0.000 (Table 2). This is concurrent with work of [2] who reported increase girth with organic manure treatment in maize plant.

On leaf broadness the result revealed that, the highest leaf broadness of 1.23 cm was observed on the mycorrhizae-based manure treated rice M1T3, followed by M2T1 and M3T1 with leaf wideness of 1.17 cm and 1.13 cm respectively. Whereas, the least leaf wideness of 0.33 cm was seen on the inorganic fertilizer treated rice F6. The result is in agreement with the findings of [4] who reported increased growth as a result of organic manure applications. The analysis conducted shows that, there is significant difference between the mean leaf broadness across the sampling stations at P ≤ 0.05 = 0.001 (Table 2).

More so, the result of this study recorded highest number of leaves (4) on both mycorrhizae-based manure treated rice M3T1 and inorganic fertilizer treated rice F1 and F4 respectively. While the least number of leaf (1) was recorded on the control C4. This is in contrast with work of both [3] and that of [2] who only recorded highest number of leaves on the organic fertilizer treated maize.

Statistical analysis shows that there is no significant difference in the mean number of leaves across the sampling stations at P ≤ 0.05 = 0.327 (Table 2).

The results revealed mycorrhizae-based organic fertilizer efficacy on the increased vegetative growth phases of rice plant, its low cost of production and it had been ecofriendly with little or no damage on soil composition. Furthermore, it can be utilized for the colonization and propagation of desired vegetation in a natural environment and significant impact in habitat restoration efforts. Agriculture might also be positively impacted by shorter crop cycles which in turn will contribute to achieve sustainable agriculture in Nigeria [21] .

The authors are grateful to Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi and IBR TETFUND REF/ATBU/DVC/Acad/12 for their financial support and also grateful to Department of Biological Sciences for providing us with the work bench and their expert support. Lastly, it’s a tribute to our late mentor Dr. Muhammad Muhammad who initiated this research.

The authors declare no conflicts of interest regarding the publication of this paper.

Ladan, M.A., Deba, F.A. and Muhammad, M. (2023) Efficacy of Mycorrhizae Based Manure on the Vegetative Growth of Rice Grown within Bauchi State, Nigeria. American Journal of Plant Sciences, 14, 464-471. https://doi.org/10.4236/ajps.2023.144030