ROLE OF MYCORRHIZA ON GROWTH AND NUTRIENT UPTAKE BY DIFFERENT AGRICULTURAL CROPS IN ARSENIC AMENDED SOIL

Abstract

The present experiment was carried out to determine the role of mycorrhizal fungi on growth and nutrient uptake by different agricultural crops in arsenic amended soil. This experiment was also performed to know the mycorrhizal status of crops collected from different arsenic affected area of Pabna district. Five crops viz. Tomato, Okra, BrinjaJ, Chili, and Danta were grown in arsenic amended soils with or without mycorrhizal inoculation. Three levels of arsenic concentrations (1Oppm, lOOppm and 500ppm) were used. At higher concentration of arsenic, the seed germination was affected more than the other treatments. In case of all the five crops; Tomato, Okra, Brinjal, Chili, and Danta the germination percentage, plant height, shoot height, root length, number of leaves, both fresh and dry weight of shoots and roots, mycorrhizal foot colonization, percent vigor and the amount of chlorophyll were higher in AMF inoculated plants in comparison. to the non inoculated plants and decreased significantly with the increase rate of arsenic concentrations. Less arsenic content and higher nutrient uptake were recorded in mycorrhiza inoculated plants.