Influence of mycorrhizal inoculation on alley cropped farms in a humid tropical environment

Abstract

The use of Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi under farmers' conditions was tried at Ajibode Village, a humid tropical environment on maize/cassava intercropped farms in an alley cropping system. Four species of AM fungi (Glomus clarum, Glomus mosseae Glomus etunicatum and Acaulospora dilatata) were used in paired treatment experimental design. Cassava and maize yields on the inoculated plots were higher than the control. It was also found that G. etunicatum was more efficient for cassava while G. mosesae was more efficient for maize. The study concluded that AM fungi inoculation can be easily adopted by farmers in the humid tropics as a low external input sustainable agricultural technology.

Key words: Abuscular Mycorrhiza; Fungi; Glomus clarum; Glomus mosseae; Glomus etunicatum; Acaulospora dilatata

Moor Journal of Agricultural Research Vol.4(2) 2003: 246-250