title: The effects of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal inoculation and mulch of contrasting chemical composition on the yield of cassava under humid tropical conditions.
abstract: The influence of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus (AMF), Glomus deserticola, and leaf mulch from Gliricidia sepium and Senna siamea on the yield of cassava (Manihot esculenta) in a degraded alfisol of southwestern Nigeria was investigated. Inoculation in conjunction with mulching increased cassava tuber yield by 40-278% over the control. The highest yield was obtained with G. sepium and S. siamea mulch applied together in equal proportions. The results are explained in the light of the growth-enhancing effects of AMF, encouraged by the ameliorating effects of mulch on the soil structure and nutrient contents.
authors.affiliation: Department of Botany and 2Department of Soil Science, University of Calabar, Calabar, Nigeria. iniobong_kn@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Iniobong E
authors.initials: IE
authors.lastname: Okon
authors.forename: Marian G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Solomon
authors.forename: Oluwole
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Osonubi
mesh_terms: D018533:Biomass; D054884:Host-Pathogen Interactions; D006813:Humidity; D002365:Manihot / Q000382:microbiology*; D038821:Mycorrhizae / Q000502:physiology*; D009549:Nigeria; D018517:Plant Roots / Q000378:metabolism; D014329:Tropical Climate