Single inoculation with an AM Fungus enhanced growth of Phyllanthus emblica compared to its co-inoculation with plant growth promoting rhizomicroorganisms

Sustainable agroforestry recommends use of more biologicals including microorganisms for the cultivation of plants.Emblica officinalis is an important forest tree species commonly used in Indian Ayurvedic medicine for curing several human ailments.A glass house study was conducted to evaluate the effect of inoculation with the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus (AMF) Claroideoglomus etunicatum and 5 different plant growth promoting rhizomicroorganisms (PGPR) singly and in combination on the growth of Phyllanthus emblica (amla) seedlings.The result brought out that single inoculation with AMF C. etunicatum is the best compared to all other treatments in improving the growth of amla seedlings.The performance of this microbial inoculation was later evaluated through large scale forest nursery trials at 3 locations with 500 inoculated and 500 uninoculated amla seedlings at each location.The results of the large scale forest nursery trials validated the results of the glass house study.The increase in biovolume index (BI) of inoculated plants, which indicates the quality of seedlings, was 49% (average of 3 locations) compared to uninoculated plants.The inoculated seedlings under large scale nursery trials were planted in wastelands at 2 locations and their establishment was monitored.The BI of inoculated seedlings was 66% more (average of 2 locations) compared to uninoculated seedlings.