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Abstract
The study was conducted to investigate the impact of oil palm empty fruit bunches (EFB) onthe fungal community structure and diversity within the rhizosphere of Elaeis guineensisL. at the Nigerian Institute for Oil Palm Research (NIFOR), Edo State. EFB, a lignocellulosicby product of palm oil processing, was applied at varying rates (0, 50, 100, and 150kg) toassess its effects on soil physicochemical properties and fungal dynamics. Standardlaboratory analyses were used to evaluate soil parameters, while fungal enumerationandidentification were conducted through morphological and microscopic characterization. Results revealed that moderate EFB application (100 kg) significantly (P ≥ 0.05) improvedsoil properties, while enhancing fungal abundance and diversity. Identified fungi specieswere Aspergillus niger, Trichoderma sp., Penicillium sp., Rhizopus arrhizus, andMucormucedo, with Trichoderma sp. exhibiting notable phosphate-solubilizing and nitrogen-fixingproperties. However, excessive EFB application (150 kg) led to nutrient immobilizationandreduced fungal proliferation. In conclusion, moderate EFB incorporation at 100kg optimizessoil health and promotes beneficial fungal communities, offering a sustainable approachforenhancing oil palm productivity in tropical soils.
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