Abstract

A Field experiment was conducted at Agricultural Research Station, Bhavanisagar during kharif 2009 to study the influence of mycorrhizal inoculation and fertilizer levels on root growth and grain yield of hybrid maize under irrigated condition. The experiment was laid out in a factorial randomized block design with four replications. Four fertilizer levels viz., 200:100:100, 150:100:100, 200:75:100 and 150:75:100 NPK kg ha -1 were the treatments under factor 'A'. Two mycorrhizal treatments viz., no inoculation of mycorrhiza (control) (M - ) and inoculation of mycorrhiza (M + ) were included under factor 'B'. The results revealed that the root parameters such as root length, root volume, root dry mass, root- shoot ratio and root colonization were higher under 200:100:100 NPK kg ha-1 and inoculation of mycorrhiza. Regarding the treatment combinations, application of 150:75:100 NPK kg ha -1 along with mycorrhizal inoculation recorded significantly better root parameters. With regard to the yield, 200:100:100 NPK kg ha -1 recorded the highest grain and stover yield (6,494 and 9,894 kg ha-1 , respectively). Among the mycorrhiza, mycorrhizal inoculated treatments recorded the highest grain and stover yield (6,736 and 10,041 kg ha -1 , respectively). Regarding the treatment combinations, application of 150:75:100 NPK kg ha -1 along with mycorrhizal inoculation recorded the highest grain and stover yield.

Keywords: Hybrid maize, Glomus intraradices, nitrogen, phosphorus, root morphology.