ROLE OF NATIVE VESICULAR-ARBUSCULAR MYCORRHIZAL FUNGI IN WHEAT (TRITICUM-AESTIVUM) - BASED CROPPING SEQUENCE FOR EFFICIENT USE OF PHOSPHORUS AND ZINC IN BLACK SOILS OF MADHYA-PRADESH

An experiment was conducted during 1989-92 to study the role of native vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in wheat (Triticum aestivum L. emend. Fiori & Paol.) in Zn-deficient black soil. The 2 cropping sequ ences, viz fallow-wheat (C-1) and sorghum [Sorghum birolor (L.) Moench ]/soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] - wheat (C-2) in addition to 9 leve ls of zinc were used in 3 zinc deficient sites of Vertisol of Jabalpur and Narsinghpur districts of Madhya Pradesh. At Surai and Khamond the survival and multiplication of native vesicular-atbuscular mycorrhiza propagules in C-2 cropping sequence played a significant positive rol e over C-1 cropping sequence in promoting the vesicular-arbuscular myc orrhiza colonization of roots, nutrient concentration, uptake and yiel d in wheat-based cropping sequence.