Response of Maize-Pigeon Pea Intercrop to Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi in Nutrient Depleted Soil

The role of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in nutrient recycling can result in the improvement of plant growth and yield in nutrient depleted soil. Two years field experiment (2008 and 2009) was conducted at Ekpoma, Nigeria to investigate the effects of mycorrhizal inoculum on maize-pigeon pea intercrop. The experiment was a 2 x 3 factorial fitted into a Randomized Complete Block Design with three replicates. Soil samples from the site were analysed for both chemical and physical properties. The land equivalent ratio was determined and data collected were analysed using descriptive statistics and ANOVA at p = 0.05. In 2008, the height and stem girth of maize were increased with the inoculation of mycorrhiza. Maize had a higher grain yield of 1,866.8 kg ha-1 when inoculated with mycorrhiza compared to non mycorrhizal maize with grain yield of 1,406.8 kg ha-1. The grain yield was 48 % higher in mycorrhizal pigeon pea compared non-mycorrhizal pigeon pea for both the intercrop and the sole pigeon pea. The inoculation of mycorrhiza increased the shoot biomass of pigeon pea and maize. The residual effects of mycorrhizal inoculation on sole pigeon pea and maize results in higher grain yield of 2,581.4 kg ha-1 and 1,500.8 kg ha-1 respectively in 2009. The residual effects of Glomus clarum increased the grain yield by 41% and 56% in maize and pigeon pea respectively. The nutrient uptake in mycorrhizal maize and pigeon pea were higher compared to non mycorrhizal maize and pigeon pea. The land equivalent ratio was greater than one which indicated the advantage of intercrop over monoculture. Glomus clarum significantly improved their growth, shoot biomass, grain yield and nutrient uptake of maize and pigeon pea. Intercrop maize with or without mycorrhiza had higher yield in the residual experiment compared to monoculture.