Full Length Research Paper

Periodic changes in Prosopis cineraria associated AM population at different soil depth and its relationship with organic carbon and soil moisture

Neelam Verma¹, J. C. Tarafdar²* and K. K. Srivastava¹

¹Arid Forest Research Institute, Jodhpur 342 005, Rajasthan, India.

²Central Arid Zone Research Institute, Jodhpur 342 003, Rajasthan, India.

*Corresponding author. E-mail: tarafdar@cazri.res.in or jctarafdar@yahoo.in.

Tel: (O) +91 +291 – 2785250. Fax: +91 + 291 -2788706.

Accepted 24 August, 2009

   Abstract

Arbuscular mycorrhizal  fungi (AMF) spore population was studied at eight levels of soil depth under two different sites viz., Prosopis cineraria under agro forestry area (with moong bean) and P. cineraria as sole crop at four different quarters of the year (July, October, January, April). In agro forestry areas the spore population recorded higher as compared to P. cineraria grown as sole crop. The upper layer (0-30 cm) contains more number of AMF population in comparison to deeper layers. The trend in decrease of spore population to soil depth was as follows: 11 - 20 cm > 0 - 10 cm > 21 - 30 cm > 31 - 40 cm > 41 - 50 cm > 51 - 60 cm > 61 - 70 cm > 71 - 80 cm. AMF population was also correlated with organic carbon content at different soil depths. The per cent organic carbon content varied between sites and among the soil depths. The more organic carbon content was recorded at upper layers and decreasing towards deeper layers. The maximum moisture content was found in first quarter, that is, in month of July and minimum in fourth quarter, that is, in April. However, spore population was positively correlated with soil organic matter throughout the year but not with soil moisture. The results demonstrated that status of AMF population under P. cineraria depends on soil depth, soil organic carbon, soil moisture content and the site of plantation.

Key words: Arbuscular mycorrhiza, organic carbon content, Prosopis cineraria, soil depth, soil moisture.