Inoculation of Strawberries with AM Fungi Produced On-Farm Increased Yield

Inoculation of plants with arbuscular mycorrhizal [AM] fungi has the potential to increase or maintain yields and allow for reduced fertilizer and pesticide application, thereby enhancing agricultural sustainability. Strawberry plants (Fragaria x ananassa Duch. cv. Chandler) were inoculated prior to oulplanting with a mixed species inoculum of AM fungi. The inoculum was produced on-the-farm in 2003 in a mixture of compost and vermiculite with bahiagrass (Paspalum notatum Flugge) as host plants. Plants were outplanted into raised black plastic beds on 30 June 2004 and harvested 6-25 June 2005. Inoculation with AM fungi increased yield 17% over uninoculated controls, 5.5 vs. 4.7 kg per ten plant sampling unit, respectively. Inoculation had no significant effect on whole season mean fruit weight, indicating an average increase of 3.6 fruit per plant for inoculated plants over uninoculated plants. Utilization of AM fungus inoculum produced on-farm as an amendment to horticultural potting media for the production of seedlings later outplanted has the potential for significant increases in crop yields.