Effects Of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungus And Pruning Regimes Of Woody Legumes On The Tuber Yield Of Alley-Cropped Cassava

Abstract

The effects of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus (AMF), Glomus deserticola, Trappe, Bloss and Menge (INVAM, CA113), on the tuber yield of cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) as influenced by two hedgerow tree species and their mixture pruned at two-and three monthly intervals were investigated in an alley cropping experiment. In alley-cropped plots, inoculation with G. deserticola increased cassava root tuber yield by 205% over non-inoculated plants at two-monthly pruning regime and 19-81.8% higher tuber yield than three-monthly pruning regime. Mixing the two tree species, Gliricidia sepium and Senna siamea in the same hedgerow, particularly with AMF inoculation, significantly improved cassava tuber yield compared to either of the tree species planted alone.

KEY WORDS: Alley-cropping. Cassava. Mycorrhiza. Pruning.

Global Journal of Pure and Applied Sciences Vol.11(1) 2005: 9-12