Growth response of gambier seedlings (Uncaria gambir (Hunter) Roxb) to the application of Arbuscular Mycorrhiza Fungi (AMF) on ex-coal mine soil

Abstract

Gambier cultivation development is experiencing constraints on land availability. The use of land for ex-coal mines can be an alternative. Ex-coal mine land has the problem of low available nutrients. Arbuscula Mycorrhiza Fungi (AMF) can help release bound nutrients into available nutrients. The study aimed to determine the effect of AMF type and dose on gambier seedlings planted on ex-coal mine soil growth. The experimental design used a Randomized Complete Design (RCD) using two treatments, namely type of AMF (Acaulospora sp, Glomus sp, and Gigaspora sp) and AMF dose (0, 5, 10, 15, and 20 g/seedling) with three replications. The observation parameters were soil chemical analysis, root colonization by AMF, seedling height and leaf number increase, shoot fresh and dry weight, root fresh and dry weight, shoot root ratio, net assimilation rate, and relative growth rate. The results obtained were that AMF type and dose treatment had a significant effect on all growth parameters except the relative growth rate, and there was no interaction between the two treatments. The type of AMF Glomus sp and a dose of 20 g/seedling provided the best influence in increasing gambier seedlings' growth on the ex-coal mine soil.