Effect of Single and Dual Inoculation with Rhizobium and AM Fungi on Nodulation, Fodder Production and Quality in Two Stylosanthes Species

ABSTRACT

Stylosanthes is regarded as an important forage legume for the humid to semiarid tropics in India. Comparative potential of single and dual inoculation of N fixers (native Rhizobium spp.) and AM fungi consortia was studied in unsterilized soil with two Stylosanthes species (S. hamata accession CPI 110123 and S. seabrana accession CPI 105546B) for nodulation, fodder production and quality, ninety days after sowing. Dual inoculation resulted in the significantly greatest nodulation, fodder production, macronutrients (N, P and Ca) and micronutrients (Fe, Zn, Cu and Mn) in both the species followed by single inoculation of Rhizobium spp. There was 91 and 92, 89 and 91, 46 and 47% increase in nodulation, nodule biomass and fodder production in S. hamata and S. seabrana, respectively, with dual inoculation over the control. The fodder quality in terms of crude protein (CP) and total digestible nutrients (TDN) was significantly higher with dual inoculation in both Stylosanthes spp. over the control. Neutral detergent fibre (NDF) and acid detergent fibre (ADF) were slightly lower in some inoculated treatments. Both microsymbionts acted synergistically and enhanced each other's density in rhizosphere soil that resulted in positive improvement in the potential of plant species. Overall performance of S. seabrana was better than S. hamata for all the parameters. These results suggest that multiple strains of biofertilizers could be more efficient than single strain for fodder production and quality improvement in Stylosanthes species.