Comparative Performance of Geographical Isolates of Glomus mosseae in Field Crops under Low-Input Intensive P-Deficient Acid Alfisol.

Comparative performance of five geographical isolates ofGlomus mosseaescreened from maize fields, soybean fields, vegetable fields, tea orchard, and citrus orchard was assessed in three major field crops (wheat, maize, and soybean) under low-input management in three glass-house pot experiments in a phosphorus (P)–deficient acid Alfisol. These geographical isolates ofGlomus mosseaevaried with respect to vesicular arbuscular mycorrhizal (VAM) spore count and root colonization in these crops with greatest spore count (240 per 250 g soil) and root colonization (28–34%) using previously screened localGlomus mosseaeculture (VAML) of CSK Himachal Pradesh Agricultural University, Palampur, India, followed in order by VAM isolate from vegetable-based cropping system,Glomus mosseaeisolate from soybean fields, andGlomus mosseaeisolate from tea farm.Glomus mosseaeisolate from vegetable-based cropping system remaining at par with local VAM culture (VAML), resulting in significantly greatest grain productivity in these field crops under low-input management. There was a considerable reduction in soil fertility with respect to NPK status over the control and initial status in pot soils inoculated withGlomus mosseaeisolate from vegetable-based cropping system followed by local VAM strain (VAML), thereby indicating greater nutrient mobilization and productivity as well through this efficientGlomus mosseaestrain in P-deficient acid Alfisol. In addition,Glomus mosseaeisolates from different farming situations resulted in differential productivity and soil fertility under these field crops. Overall,Glomus mosseaeisolate from vegetable-based cropping system proved its superiority in realizing greater productivity and nutrient mobilization compared to localGlomus mosseaeVAM culture under low-input management in P-deficient acid Alfisol. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]