STUDIES ON CORRELATIONS BETWEEN ENDOMYCORRHIZAL AND AZOTOBACTER POPULATION WITH GROWTH, YIELD AND SOIL NUTRIENT STATUS OF APPLE (MALUS DOMESTICA BORKH) ORCHARDS IN HIMACHAL PRADESH

Keeping in view the capacity of arbuscular mycorrhizae fungi to form useful associations with apple trees growing in diverse ecosystems of north-western Himalayan region and to ascertain the influence of soil and cultural practices on such associations, a survey was undertaken in 80 apple orchards.
These studies have shown that the frequency and degree of infection of endomycorrhizae bear a direct effect on growth and yield of the tree.
Positive correlation was observed between mycorrhizal spore population in the rhizosphere soil with leaf area, crop yield and per cent of mycorrhizal infection in the roots.
But proportion and intensity of colonization were negatively correlated with soil P and Zn status.
Higher status of N and organic carbon have shown positive relationship with microbial population and root colonization. Azotobacter chroococcum counts in the soil have also shown a positive relationship with organic carbon content of soil, shoot extension growth and yield of apple trees.

VII International Symposium on Temperate Zone Fruits in the Tropics and Subtropics – Part Two

S.D. Sharma, N. Sharma, C.L. Sharma, R. Sood, R.P. Singh

apple, endomycorrhiza, Azotobacter, nutrients

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2005.696.49