Performance of maize (Zea mays L.) cultivars and community structure of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi in response to tillage practices and soil amendments in a derived Savanna

This investigation tested the hypothesis that community structure of AMF would vary in soil sown with maize (Zea mays) and amended with inorganic NPK fertiliser and tillage practice. Three tillage practices [conventional (CT), minimum (MT) and zero (NT)] were imposed on maize cultivars (Oba super 2 and Swan 1) in soil amended with (600 kg NPK ha-1) and without. The treatments were in split-split arrangement fitted into randomised complete block design, replicated thrice. The main plot consisted of maize varieties; sub plot consisted of tillage practises, while sub-sub plot was made of soil amendments. The results showed NT supported enriched community structure of AMF with predominance of Glomus in soil in the order NT > MT > CT. Similar pattern was observed on species richness, species evenness and diversity. Spore count, percentage colonisation, species richness, evenness and diversity were significantly higher in non-amended soil. Significantly higher spore count was observed in the rhizosphere of Oba super 2. Improved performance of maize in amended soil could have implied complimentary role of Glomus apart from nutritional. Cultivar differences of maize and seasons could have explained variation in species diversity of AMF in a derived Savanna.