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 soil and 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.