Impact of Biological Fertilizer Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi and Conventional Fertilizers Mobilization on Growth, Yield, Nutrients Uptake, Quercetin and Allin Contents in Allium Crops Cultivation Under Field Conditions in Semi-Arid Region of India

Abstract

Field experiment was conducted at farmer field Lasalgaon in the state of Maharashtra, India to determine the influence of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) to reduce the doses of chemical fertilizer used in major allium crops (red onion, white onion and garlic) during winter cultivation. AMF inoc-ulated and uninoculated onion and garlic seedlings/cloves were grown with recommended dose of fertilizer (100% RDF) and Mycorrhiza +75% RDF. AMF inoculated onion and garlic plant showed significant increase in plant growth parameters like plant height, total biomass, neck thickness, bulb diameters and bulb weight. AMF + 75% RDF treatments resulted into greater plant morphological characters, highest yield, height, TSS, quercetin and allin contents and AMF root colonization as compared to uninoculated control (100% RDF). The results reveal that AMF contribute to growth and development of onion and garlic plant under field conditions. In the present study, it can be concluded that AMF could reduce the amount of chemical fertilizers to enhancing overall performance of onion and garlic and provide a sustainable and environmentally safer option for cultivation.