Vesicular arbuscular mycorrhiza (VAM) mediated solubilization of phosphorus in clayey soil

Abstract

One of the major essential macronutrient for plant is phosphorous and is applied to soil in the form of chemical phosphatic fertilizers which is immobilized rapidly and becomes unavailable to plants. Microorganisms are involved in the transformation of soil P and is thus an integral part of the soil P cycle. In particular, soil microorganisms are effective in releasing P from inorganic and organic pools of total soil P through solubilization and mineralization. P-solubilization ability of the microorganisms is considered to be one of the most important properties. The adverse impact of chemical fertilizers on the environment and the less cost effectiveness stimulates the exploration of Phosphate solubilisers. 2/3rd of phosphate fertilizer is unavailable within a very short period of its application due to fixation in the soil complex. To overcome the problem of phosphorus solubilisation and to raise its concentration in soil, the present work was undertaken which deals with the isolation and inoculation of VAM spores from four sets of soil sample mainly clayey textured soil as classified on the basis of its morphological characteristics done through particle size analysis. The result of the present study showed that AM symbiosis associated with plant roots and soil aggregates optimizes the phosphorus solubilization and it is confirmed by the physico-chemical and biochemical estimations along with the mineralogical studies, where the results are within expectations.