Study of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi population in the rhizosphere of oil palm planted on 4 different soil types in Central Kalimantan Indonesia

¹ University of Lampung, Department of Agronomy and Horticulture, Faculty of Agriculture, Lampung, Indonesia
² PT Bumitama Gunajaya Agro, Research and Development Department, Central Kalimantan, Indonesia

^* Corresponding author: maria.vivarini@fp.unila.ac.id

Abstract

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are naturally found in the soil. The population of this fungus is influenced by environmental factors such as soil type. Different soil types have different characteristics and will affect the AMF population in the soil. Therefore, this study was carried out to determine the AMF population in the soil based on the number of spores in the rhizosphere of oil palm planted in 4 different soil types, namely Dystrudepts, Paleudults, Haplohumods, and Haplosaprists. Soil samples were taken from each soil type at 4 sample points. At each sample point, soil samples were taken from 5 adjacent oil palm trees. Rhizosphere soil samples were taken at 4 points inside the oil palm circle at a depth of up to 15 cm and 4 points from the outside and then composited to represent 1 sample point for inside and outside the circle. Extraction of AMF spores from soil samples was carried out by the wet sieving method. The results showed that the average number of AMF spores per 50 g of rhizosphere soil from inside and outside the oil palm circle were 66,7 and 53,5 spores for Dystrudepts, 115,5 and 91,5 spores for Paleudults, 27 and 71,8 spores for Haplohumods, and 83,3 and 55 spores for Haplosaprists respectively. In Dystrudepts, Paleudults, and Haplosaprists soil types, the number of spores in the rhizosphere of oil palm inside the circle was higher than outside. On the other hand, for Haplohumods soil types, the number of spores inside the circle was lower than outside the circle.