Effect of selected arbuscular mycorrhiza fungi on the growth of Calliandra calothyrsus and Sorghum bicolor in eastern Uganda
Abstract
220 words
Successful consistent revegetation of drastically disturbed areas
throughout the world has been achieved using biological “tools”
including mycorrhizal fungus inoculated tree seeds, seedlings,
native shrubs, and grass species. However, the performance
of these tools in different environments and plants has not yet
been fully explored. This study compared the effect of selected
arbuscular mycorrhiza fungi (AMF) genera and their application
rates on calliandra and sorghum growth. AMF rich soils were
collected from Serere in Soroti District for inoculum production.
The soils were screened and four dominant genera (Glomus,
Scutellospora, Gigaspora and Acaulospora) were identified
and tested on calliandra (pot experiment) and sorghum (onfarm).
Calliandra performance under two rates (50 spores/pot
and 30 spores/pot) of the four genera and their mixture were
compared to uninnoculated control using pot experiment.
Sorghum performance under the mixture (250 spores/kg of soil)
was compared with a control (not inoculated) on-farm. Each
of the treatment was replicated three times. Glomus and
Acaulospora application gave the highest increase in height
for calliandra; while the biomass was highest for the mixture (P<0.05). On-farm the inoculated sorghum had a higher yield
increase and was ten times taller than the control nine weeks
after germination (P<0.05). This study provides a good scope
for commercially utilizing the efficient strains of AMF to improve
establishment of slow growing seedlings and improved growth.
Subjects
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