Improvement of forage production in Calliandra calothyrsus: methodology for the identification of an effective inoculum containing Rhizobium strains and arbuscular mycorrhizal isolates.

Abstract

The overall aim of this paper is to describe the selection of effective rhizobia and arbuscular mycorrhizas (AM), which after inoculation, will significantly improve the forage production of Calliandra calothyrsus under field conditions. To achieve this objective, the following activities were carried out: (i) establishment from both nodules and soil samples of a collection of microsymbionts (rhizobium and AM) of C. calothyrsus from Central America (Mexico, Honduras, Guatemala, Nicaragua and Costa Rica), also from outside its native range in Cameroon, Kenya and New Caledonia; (ii) identification under glasshouse conditions of the most effective rhizobia and AM isolates; (iii) production of a solid selected inoculum for field trials; (iv) examination of the impact of the inoculation on the growth of C. calothyrsus monitored under nursery conditions.

Citation

Journal of Biotechnology (2001) 91 (2/3) 269-282 [10.1016/S0168-1656(01)00328-5]

Improvement of forage production in Calliandra calothyrsus: methodology for the identification of an effective inoculum containing Rhizobium strains and arbuscular mycorrhizal isolates.

Published 1 January 2001