Comparative effect of two VA-Mycorrhizal species on biomass of nine plant species grown on iron ore mine rejects

Abstract

Mycorrhizae play a vital role in wasteland development programme. The role of Vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in stimulating plant growth through enhanced nutrient aid water uptake on wastelands is now widely recognized. The present study reports the effect of two VAM species viz., Glomus fasciculatum and Glomus mosseae on total biomass of nine tree species, viz., Delonix regia, Tamarindus indica, Acacia famesiana, Acacia mangium, Adenanthera pavonina, Albizzia lebbeck, Leucaenea leucocephala, Samanea saman and Ziziphus jujuba grown in iron ore mine rejects. The results indicate that inoculation with both the VAM species was beneficial and increased the total biomass when compared to control plants in all the species. Six plant species viz., Delonix regia, Tamarindus indica, Acacia famesiana, Adenanthera pavonina, Leucaenea leucocephala and Samanea saman inoculated with Glomus mosseae showed higher biomass as compared to plants inoculated with Glomus fasciculatum. In two species Acacia mangium and Albizzia lebbeck inoculation with either VAM species did not show significant differences in biomass production. The lone species viz., Ziziphus jujuba showed higher biomass production when inoculated with Glomus fasciculatum as compared to the plants inoculated with Glomus mosseae. It may be concluded that inoculating plant species with appropriate VAM fungi would help to increase the growth and biomass.