Effect of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi on the growth and Yield of Rice (Oryza sativa L.) in Bauchi, Nigeria

Rice (Oryza sativa L.) is one of the most important staple foods considered in many countries around the world, including Nigeria. This aim of the study is to determine the effect of Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi on the growth and yield of rice. The experiment was conducted in a screen house using a complete randomize design (CRD). Two rice varieties (Nerica and Jamila) were grown in a one litre pods, filled with sterilized soil and three seeds were sown into each pod at a depth of 2 cm until germination, then reduced to one seedling. Different Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) dose (10 g, 20 g, 30 g, and 40 g) was inoculated at the time of seed sowing and non-inoculated pods as control. Various parameters were taken into consideration like plant height, number of leaves, panicle length and panicle number while shoot dry biomass, root dry biomass and yield attributes were taken at harvest. According to the results, the effects on growth indices and yield attributes increases with increased in AMF dose. Although, yield attributes were significantly higher, in the order control<10 g<20 g< 30 g< 40 g. Thus, suggesting the beneficial utilization of AMF as a potential biofertilizer.