Abstract

A pot experiment was conducted from July to October 2024 in the plastic house belonging to the Horticulture Department, College of Agricultural Engineering Sciences, University of Sulaimani, located at (35 32 18.4 N and 45 21 55.3E) to examine the effect of mycorrhiza, nitrogen-fixing bacteria, and the interaction between them on maize (Zea mays L.) growth and nutrient uptake at different levels of NP fertilizers (0%, 25 %, 50 %, 75 %, 100 %) of dose, using urea and triple superphosphate as the source of NP. A Factorial experiment was conducted using a complete randomized design (CRD) with three replicates in silty clay soil collected in Kani Panka at a depth of 15–30 cm. Before harvesting, the plant height and chlorophyll intensity were measured, and then the plants were harvested to measure root and shoot dry weight, root colonization, and N, P, Fe, Mn, Zn, and Cu concentration in dry shoots. The results show that co-inoculation led to significantly greater plant height 85.67 cm, chlorophyll intensity (61.00 SPAD), root dry weight (3.46 g) and shoot dry weight (8.18 g) at 75% NP, while root colonization (77.67%) was highest at 50% NP fertilizer. Maize shoot N, P, Fe, Mn, Zn, and Cu content were respectively observed at (18.80 g Kg⁻¹, 1.37 g Kg⁻¹, 94.37 µg g⁻¹) at 50 % NP, (69.00 µg g⁻¹, 94.83 µg g⁻¹, and 44.00 µg g⁻¹) at 75 % NP fertilizer. Additionally,inoculation by Azotobacter chroococcum alone significantly increased plant growth and nutrient uptake, but mycorrhiza resulted in less effective for increases in plant growth and nutrient uptake compared to control.