Effect of VA Mycorrhizal Fungi on Growth of Asparagus

Abstract

Surveys were made for several locations to collect of VA mycorrhizal fungi of the asparagus field in Khon Kaen, Kalasin and Maha Sarakham provinces. The VA mycorrhizae (VAM) were found 32 isolates, 4 genera namely Glomus sp., Acaulospora sp., Gigaspora sp., and Scutellospora sp. in soil where pH was 4.6 – 6.6. Thirty two isolates of VAM were tested for their effectiveness. All of them were able to produce spores and colonize root plants. These 6 isolates which produced high amount of spores and high percentage of root colonization were selected to study for the effect or VAM on growth and yield of asparagus. The pot experiment was conducted in Randomized complete block design with 6 replications and 7 treatments comprising 6 isolates of VAM and control at the glass-house of Department of Agriculture. The results showed that some of VAM effected on increasing the number of asparagus stem compared to the control 24%. The followed experiment was conducted by growing asparagus in the field at Khon Kaen province. Randomized complete block design was employed with following treatments: 4 isolates of VAM, chemical fertilizer and the control. At planting time, 2 tons/rai of compost fertilizer were broadcasted to the soil in every plot. The results showed the efficiency of VAM in increasing yield of asparagus at 33% over the treatment chemical fertilizer.