Effect of the Cultivation Medium and Cutting Position and Their Interaction on the Growth and Root Morphology of Fig Cuttings

Abstract

This study evaluated the influence of the cutting position (terminal, middle, and basal) and the growth medium [soil only; soil + biochar (BC); soil + phosphorus solubilizing bacteria (PSB); soil + arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF); soil + BC + PSB + AMF] on vegetative growth attributes and root morphology, soil microbial carbon and respiration, available phosphorus, and the rate of its absorption in fig trees (Ficus carica L.). The results demonstrated that using soil + BC + PSB + AMF as a growth medium for the medium cutting gave the highest plant height, shoot fresh weight, shoot dry weight, root fresh weight, root dry weight, root length, and root surface area, as well as the absorbed phosphorus by cuttings compared to the other growth media used. Besides, the vegetative growth attributes and root morphology of middle cuttings were better than those of terminal or basal cuttings. Besides, using soil + BC + PSB + AMF as a cultivation medium increased phosphorus availability in the soil for medium, terminal, and basal cuttings.