Effect of Arbuscular Mycorrhiza and Fly Ash Amendment in Red Lateritic Soil to Compare the Chilli Growth

Abstract

Application of fly ash with soil may act as a source of readily available micro and macro nutrients to the plants and improve physico-chemical and biological properties of the soil. In contrast lateritic soil is low fertile, deficient in available phosphorus and other nutrients to the plants. In the experiment Capsicum annuum (chilli) were grown as test crops planted in lateritic soiland fly ash separately, and in the combined mixture of them, with inoculation of the arbuscular mycorrhiza, Acaulospora delicata. Parameters were compared for AM spore count, root colonization, growth and productivity of chilli in term of height, leaf number, leaf area, root collar dimeter, number of flowers and fruits, fresh weight and dry weight. Among all soil samples the growth of chilli showed maximum in combined mixture of lateritic soil and fly ash inoculated with the AM. Also the combined treatment of AM inoculated lateritic soil and fly ash showed better mycorrhization than others. Hence application of AM inoculated low fertile soil with fly ash may present better productivity.