Eco-restoration of degraded land with the medicinal plant by the use of biofertilizers: A comparative study of Emlica officinali and Azadirachta indica

Abstract

A present study was conducted to restore the degraded land by agroforestry models using medicinal tree species viz. Emlica officinalis and Azadirachta indica in Bilaspur. The different AM fungal species belonging to genera viz., Acaulospora and Glomus were isolated and identified from the rhizosphere. Among these genus, Glomus was found to be the most frequent fungus. The distributions of AM fungal average frequencies have been discussed. It was found that some of the soil properties were significantly different (p<0.05). The soil organic carbon, available nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium including AM fungi were comparatively higher in Emlica officinalis than Azadirachta indica plantation. The demand for Indian medicinal plants has increased over the last few decades in the international market and this medicinal plants-based agroforestry model practice will help to reclaim the degraded lands.