Bioassociative effect of rhizospheric microorganisms on growth, nutrient uptake and yield of mung bean (Vigna radiata L. Wilczek)

Nitrogen applications have generated great interests in agriculture, with much of its success associated with increasing the uptake of nitrogen by crops while reducing pollution by this chemical fertilizer. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the interactive effect of rhizospheric microorganisms on nutrient uptake, yield and growth of mung bean grown in pots under glasshouse conditions. The results revealed that the growth, in terms of morphology and physiology, of all the inoculated plants was better than that of the control plants. In terms of growth, plant height, fresh and dry weights and length of the roots plants inoculated with both Funneliformis mosseae + T. viride did best. Total chlorophyll content, alkaline and acidic phosphatase activities were greatest when inoculated with only F. mosseae and fresh and dry weights of shoots when inoculated only with T. viride. Significant increase in N and P uptake was recorded when inoculated with both F. mosseae + T. viride. Overall the significant increase in growth and development was due to positive interactions among rhizospheric microorganisms leading to healthy and vigorously growing plants. However, there is now a need for field trails of this technique.