Critical level of VAM fungal propagules in different arid crop

Abstract

To examine the critical level of vesicular- arbuscular (VAM) mycorrhizal fungi for moth bean (Vigna aconitifolia (Jacq.) Marechal), mung bean (Vigna radiata (L.) Wilczek) and pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. Br.), Glomus mosseae was used at different spore levels (0, 25, 50, 75, 100, 200 and 300 spores per 100 g soil). Mycorrhizal inoculation increased plant height, dry matter yield, root length and % root infection. Seventy per cent infection was found to be sufficient for optimum response by legumes (moth bean and mung bean), whereas 80% infection was required to get effective yield for cereal (pearl millet). The critical level for moth bean, mung bean and pearl millet was found to be 75, 100 and 200 spores per 100 g soil, respectively. However, the effect on plant growth was observed up to 225 spores per 100 g soil for moth bean, 240 spores per 100 g soil for mung bean and 300 spores per 100 g soil for pearl millet. The results demonstrate that one must use saturated amounts of effective VAM fungi for optimum crop response.