Effect of Native Bioinoculants on Vegetable Crops Grown on Alkaline Soil Under Field Conditions

Abstract

ABSTRACT Due to expansive and environment-polluting chemical amendments for reclaiming alkaline salt-affected wastelands that have large share worldwide, it is important to use biological means like native bioinoculants to counteract the alkalinity and increase crop productivity on a sustainable basis. Field experiments were conducted to culture native Arbuscular Mycorrhiza fungi (AMF) on an alkaline soil and to study the efficacy of the native and exotic strains of AMF and Azotobacter in four vegetable crops [Brassica oleracea var. capitata (cabbage), Allium cepa (onion), Solanum melongena (eggplant) and Brassica oleracea var. botrytis (cauliflower)] separately, as well as in combination. The Ricinus communis (castor) was found to be a suitable host for AM culturing on normal soil and Trigonella foenum graecum (fenugreek) on alkaline soil, however, alkalinity affected germination and survival % of R. communis and Zea mays plants significantly. The combined inoculation of native AM fungi and Azotobacter i...