Abstract

Garlic (Allium sativum L.) is one of the most important bulb vegetable, which is used as spice and flavoring agent for foods. It is an important crop grown in the hills of Tamilnadu. Garlic is rich in nutrients and used medicinally to cure number of diseases. In order to improve the productivity and high nutrient content of Garlic, biofertilizers are recommended. Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi gained significant importance in horticulture, agriculture etc. Hence in the present study, the effect of sodium alginate entrapped AMF inoculum in growth and nutrition of Garlic varieties in Nilgiri District was investigated. Inoculation with AMF, G. aggregatum as alginate entrapped inoculum produced plants with greater height, number of leaves, plant biomass, sizes of bulb and increased nutrition viz., nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium content of Garlic varieties when compared to the control. Different carrier based sodium alginate entrapped G. aggregatum against varieties of Garlic were also analysed.  It is concluded that the native strain of G. aggregatum along with the sodium alginate entrapped inoculum is suitable for the cultivation of native garlic varieties in Nilgiris District.