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Abstract
Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) have the capability to improve crop yields by increasing plant nutrient supply. A pot experiment was conducted under natural conditions to determine the response of AMF inoculation on the growth of maize (Zea mays L.), sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L.), millet (Pennisetum glaucum L.), mash bean (Vigna mungo L.), and mung bean (Vigna radiata. L.) crops during 2008. The experiment was conducted as a completely randomized design in three replications using phosphorus (P)–deficient soil. Three plants were grown in 10 kg soil up to the stage of maximum growth for 70 days. Spores of AMF were isolated from rhizosphere of freshly growing wheat and berseem crops and mixed with sterilized soil with fine particles. Crops were inoculated in the presence of indigenous mycorrhiza with the inoculum containing 20 g sterilized soil mixed with 40–50 AMF spores. Inoculation with AMF improved yield and nutrient uptake by different crops significantly over uninoculated crops. Inoculated millet crop showed 20% increase in shoot dry matter and 21% in root dry matter when compared with other inoculated crops. Increases of 67% in plant nitrogen (N) and iron (Fe) were observed in millet, 166% in plant P uptake was observed in mash beans, 186% in zinc (Zn) was measured in maize, and 208% in copper (Cu) and 48% in manganese (Mn) were noted in sorghum crops. Maximum root infection intensity of 35% by AMF and their soil spore density were observed in millet crop followed by 32% in mash beans. Results suggest that inoculation of AMF may play a role in improving crop production and the varied response of different crops to fungi signifies the importance of evaluating the compatibility of the fungi and plant host species.