Effects of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungus Inoculation and Phosphorus Fertilization on the Growth of Gliricidia sepium in Sterile and Non-Sterile Soils

A pot experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungus (AMF), Glomus deserticola, on the growth of Gliricidia sepium under 0, 50 and 100 mg Pkg 1 levels of phosphorus fertilization. Inoculation with AMF increased dry matter yield at all levels of applied Phosphorus (P) in both sterile and non-sterile soils while P fertilization at 100 mg P kg 1 soil level in conjunction with AMF inoculation increased the dry matter yield by 269.2 and 107.7% in sterile and non-sterile soils, respectively. P fertilization increased arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi colonization but decreased mycorrhizal dependency. Colonization by indigenous AMF was, however, significantly (p< 0.01) reduced at 100 mg P kg 1 soil fertilization. Foliar nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium yields were significantly (p< 0.01) increased by AMF inoculation.