ASSESSING THE IMPACT OF FUNGICIDE ON MAIZE SOIL MYCOFLORA AND GROWTH

ABSTRACT Maize is the leading cereal in terms of production volume and is set to become the most widely grown and traded crop in the coming decade. This research investigates the effects of different fungicide treatments on maize (Zea mays) growth parameters and soil mycoflora dynamics. The methodology involved the collection of SUWAN-I-Y maize seeds and topsoil from the Institute of Agricultural Research and Training (IAR and T), Moor Plantation, Ibadan. The soil was sterilized through tyndallization, and the seeds were treated with sodium hypochlorite before being coated with fungicide powders. The experiment was conducted in a controlled outdoor environment, using a complete randomized design (CRD) with plastic pots containing 8 kg of sterilized soil in the screen house. The fungicides were applied as foliar sprays at 3 and 6 weeks after planting, and soil samples were collected at 4, 7, 10 and 13 weeks to monitor fungal diversity. Also, growth parameter such as plant heights, stem girth and number of leaves of treated and untreated soil samples were taken at 4 weeks interval and all data collected were subjected to statistical analysis. The results indicated that fungicide treatments significantly impacted maize growth, with the detergent treatment showing the highest increase in plant height (184 cm at 12 weeks) and organic treatments enhancing stem girth in undressed seeds (19.66 cm at 12 weeks). However, the study also found that chemical fungicides, while effective in promoting growth, reduced soil fungal composition, raising concerns about long-term soil health. Chemical fungicides are effective for maize growth but they also affect soil ecosystems negatively.