Effect of mycorrhiza and pruning regimes on seasonality of hedgerow tree mulch contribution to alley-cropped cassava in Ibadan, Nigeria

Field experiments were carried out on an alley-cropping farm in Ajibode village, near Ibadan where cassava alley-cropped with three hedgerow trees (Leucaena leucocephala, Gliricidia sepium and Senna(Syn Cassia) siamea), and sole planted cassava (all in three replicates) were arranged with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) inoculation (with Glomus deserticolum) in a completely randomized blockdesign. Each plot was split after the first year into two and hedgerows within subjected to 2 and 3- month pruning regimes. Wet and dry season mulch contribution by pruning to alley-cropped cassava, as well as cassava yield characteristics in both alley-cropped and sole plots as affected by AMFinoculation and pruning regimes were monitored over two consecutive planting periods. During the first pruning year, AMF inoculation promoted dry season pruning production which was masked in Leucaena at 3 months by biomass diversion into flowering and in Gliricidia with both flowering and mite infestation. No definite patterns were observed in the second pruning year due to development of indigenous AMF symbiosis in all plots. Total yield of cassava increased with inoculation in all plots butdry season leaf area values and tuber yield indices were relatively higher in cassava alley-cropped with Senna and sole cassava than in others. The low total yield of sole cassava makes cassava alley cropped with Senna (inoculated or uninoculated) the best option for maintaining steady tuber yield with time in a continuing alley-cropping syste

Physiological and cultural factors affecting VA mycorrhizae infection and responsiveness in various cassava clones

Degree of VAM colonization and clonal responsiveness are useful selection criteria for improving the clonal adaptation of cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) for managing sustainable crop production systems in the tropics. Cultivated clones of cassava were shown to vary in their levels of colonization by different vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizae (VAM fungi) species in controlled sterile- pot cultures using low-P soils. Physiological factors of host plants which significantly influenced the VAM responsiveness were fibrous root growth rate and weight, leaf area, water use efficiency, and photosynthetic photochemical efficiency. Host plant cultural factors that influenced VAM infection rates were soil P level, irrigation frequency, and age of the host plant. The VAM fungal species (Glomus clarum and G. mossae) effect on clonal responsiveness was not significant. Efficient and desirable host clones of cassava need to be selected for those environments where VAM could be beneficial for improved nutrient and water resource use

The Effects of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungal Inoculation and Mulch of Contrasting Chemical Composition on the Yield of Cassava under Humid Tropical Conditions

The influence of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus (AMF), Glomus deserticola, and leaf mulch from Gliricidia sepium and Senna siamea on the yield of cassava (Manihot esculenta) in a degraded alfisol of southwestern Nigeria was investigated. Inoculation in conjunction with mulching increased cassava tuber yield by 40–278% over the control. The highest yield was obtained with G. sepium and S. siamea mulch applied together in equal proportions. The results are explained in the light of the growth-enhancing effects of AMF, encouraged by the ameliorating effects of mulch on the soil structure and nutrient contents

Yam tuber and maize grain yield response to cropping system intensification in south-west Nigeria

Open Access Article; Published online: 11 Dec 2017Four factorial trials were conducted with yam (Dioscorea rotundata Poir.) at Ibadan, Nigeria from 2013 to 2015, investigating effects of (1) tillage (2) fertilizer (3) intercropping (4) yam plant densities. Yam tuber yields varied between years (2013: 16.44 Mg ha−1; 2014: 10.08 Mg ha−1; 2015 26.61 Mg ha−1). In 2013 neither tillage nor fertilizer affected tuber yields. In 2014 tillage increased yields (+25.4%, P < 0.0001), fertilizer reduced yield (−10.5%; P = 0.0046). In 2015 tillage increased tuber yields by 8.1% (ns), fertilizer application increased yield (+17.5%, P = 0.0017). Across the years, tuber yields increased (P < 0.01) with increasing yam density with a constant increase in 2013 up to the highest density, yet yields leveled out above 14,815 plants ha−1 in 2014 and 2015. Intercropping with maize (66,667 plants ha−1) reduced tuber yield by 42.62% in 2013, 44.52% in 2014 and 30.68% in 2015 (P < 0.01 all years) across all yam densities. Maize grain yield was higher in sole crop in 2 years. Fertilizer increased yields in all years (P < 0.0001). Maize yield had no response to the yam densities. Ridging had a negative effect on grain yield in 2015 (−0.3 Mg ha−1, P = 0.0002). Increasing plant density appears a safe measure to increase yam yields

Response of two Acacia species to drought and inoculation with an ectomycorrhizal fungus

Inclusion of trees in cropping systems is an efficient way to recycle nutrients and replenish soil organic matter. In the tropics, P deficiency is commonplace, and rains are erratic in many areas. Mycorrhizal fungi are known to enhance P uptake of the host-plant in low-P soils, and to improve its water relations under drought conditions

Effects Of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungus And Pruning Regimes Of Woody Legumes On The Tuber Yield Of Alley-Cropped Cassava

The effects of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus (AMF), Glomus deserticola, Trappe, Bloss and Menge (INVAM, CA113), on the tuber yield of cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) as influenced by two hedgerow tree species and their mixture pruned at two-and three monthly intervals were investigated in an alley cropping experiment. In alley-cropped plots, inoculation with G. deserticola increased cassava root tuber yield by 205% over non-inoculated plants at two-monthly pruning regime and 19-81.8% higher tuber yield than three-monthly pruning regime. Mixing the two tree species, Gliricidia sepium and Senna siamea in the same hedgerow, particularly with AMF inoculation, significantly improved cassava tuber yield compared to either of the tree species planted alone. KEY WORDS: Alley-cropping. Cassava. Mycorrhiza. Pruning. Global Journal of Pure and Applied Sciences Vol.11(1) 2005: 9-1

Chlorophyll fluorescence analysis for assessing water deficit and Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi (AMF) inoculation in cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz)

Arbucsular Mycorrhizal Fungi (AMF) are implicated as phyto-stimulators of various physiological processes of its symbiotic plants. The influences of AM fungi and water deficit on quantum yield of photochemistry (Fv/Fm) of photo-system II of cassava leaves were therefore investigated. Field experiment was conducted at Ajibode village while the semi-controlled experiment was conducted at the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Ibadan, Nigeria. One improved cassava clone (TMS 4(2) 1425) and a landrace (TME1) were investigated. The soil is Oxic Paleustalf in both fields and controlled experiments. The controlled experiments were arranged factorially in a complete randomized design, while the field experiment was a randomized complete block design. The plants were adequately watered at alternate days. After two months, one half of the plants in each treatment were subjected to water stress. All treatments were replicated three times. Results obtained from chlorophyll fluorescence probe indicated that inoculated AM fungi enhanced photochemical efficiency of light reactions of the photosystem II (PS II) in intact cassava leaf tissues both under irrigation and water stress conditions. Water deficit levels based on more negative leaf had adverse effects on chlorophyll fluorescence of both genotypes. However, the adverse effect of water stress was significantly reduced by AM inoculation. Fv/Fm values could be a potentially useful criterion in selecting for drought tolerance and AM fungi efficiency of cassava

The effect of vesicular arbuscular mycorrhizal inoculation on nutrient uptake and yield of alley cropped cassava in a degraded Alfisol of southwestern Nigeria

Leaf and root (tuber) nutrient uptake patterns of cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) alley-cropped with gliricidia (Gliricidia sepium), leucaena (Leucaena leucocephala), and senna [(Senna (syn. Cassia) siamea] as influenced by vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizal (VAM) inoculation in a degraded Alfisol were investigated in consecutive years. The cassava plants were mulched with fresh prunings of each hedgerow tree species at 2-month intervals in the second and third years of alley cropping. While VAM inoculation significantly influenced the root uptake of nutrients, the leaf uptake was not affected except for the uptake of P. In most cases, there was no difference in the nutrient concentration between inoculated and uninoculated plants, either in the leaf or in the root, indicating that the productivity of cassava was regulated by the amount of nutrients the roots could absorb. In spite of similar total soil N in all inoculated and uninoculated alley-cropped cassava plots and similar exchange-able soil K contents in inoculated and uninoculated alley-cropped cassava plots with leucaena and senna, greater uptake of N, P, and K and greater concentrations of K were observed in roots of inoculated alley-cropped cassava with gliricidia and leucaena than with senna. These results indicated that greater mineralization and availability of nutrients to cassava roots from prunings of nodulating gliricidia and leucaena than from non-nodulating senna may be important, particularly with efficient VAM inoculation, in these alley-cropping systems. Also, for similar nutrients in the inoculated and uninoculated cassava soils alley-cropped with each hedgerow species, VAM inoculation significantly enhanced cassava root dry weights, indicating that an effective VAM fungus can be an agent of greater nutrient uptake in a competitive environment

Effects of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and water stress on leaf chlorophyll production of cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz)

Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi are well known phyto-stimulators of various growth processes of its symbiotic plants. Semi-controlled experiments were conducted in large container cultured cassava to investigate the influence of AM inoculation and water stress on leaf chlorophyll production from sprouting to 6 months after sprouting with the aim to better understand stressful conditions on its growth habit. Two AM species Glomus clarum and G. mosseae were used to inoculate two cassava cultivars, TMS 4(2) 1425 (an improved cultivar) and TME1 (a landrace). A 3-factor factorial complete randomized design, with three replications was used to arrange the containers. Water stress was begun one month after planting (MAP) and compared to non-water stressed. The results indicated that plant water stress levels based on more negative leaf Ψ had a detrimental effect on leaf chlorophyll contents of both genotypes. There were significant cultivar x AM species x irrigation treatment interactions during stress and post-stress recovery periods. The introduced AM fungi species were also found to enhance chlorophyll production both under well watered and water stressed conditions. G. clarum remained more effective on chlorophyll synthesis under both water regimes. The improved cultivar also responded more positively to AM fungi inoculation with regard to chlorophyll production. Our data suggest that genotypic differences between the Glomus spp.and also that of cassava genotypes and their interactions have to be considered in the successful use of AM technology in cassava cultivation