GROWTH OF CASSAVA CULTIVAR TMS-30572 AS AFFECTED BY ALLEY-CROPPING AND MYCORRHIZAL INOCULATION

The effect of inoculation with Glomus clarum, a vesicular-arbuscular m ycorrhiza fungus, and alley-cropping on the growth of the cassava cult ivar, TMS 30572, was investigated under field conditions in a low nutr ient tropical soil. Cassava was grown either interplanted between two hedgerow tree species (alley-cropped) or sole-cropped. Sub-plots were either inoculated with G. clarum or were not inoculated. No effort was made to destroy the indigenous mycorrhizal fungi. Three months after planting, no significant influence of G. clarum inoculation was observ ed on the growth of roots, shoots or leaf area index (LAI). However, w ith time, inoculation and system of cropping enhanced these growth par ameters. Nine months after planting, the total biomass of alley-croppe d cassava was significantly higher than that of inoculated and non-ino culated sole-cropped cassava, Inoculation had led to an increase in th e fresh tuber yield of both the alley-and sole-cropped cassava 12 mont hs after planting. The LAI of both alley-and sole-cropped cassava inoc ulated with G. clarum increased.