Existence Arbuscula Mycorrhiza and Its Application Effect to Several Variety of Corn Plant (Zeal mays L.) in Marginal Dry Land

Arbuscula mycorrhiza (AM) have a very large function in symbiosis with plant roots, it's very important to be studied further because AM utilization is an alternative solution to improve the yield of corn plant in poor land. Until now the productivity of corn plant, especially in Southeast Sulawesi, Indonesia is lower than it's genetic potential, one of the causes is the cultivation of many plant done in sub optimal land with low technology applications especially the use of organic and biological fertilizer very low. This study aimed to observe the presence of AM and evaluate the growth and productivity of corn plant that AM inoculated. The study consisted two series of experiments, namely (1) Existence arbuscula mycorrhiza in rhizosphere of dominant weed (bladygrass) in dry land in Kendari, Southeast Sulawesi, Indonesia, was observed descriptively, (2) Effect of arbuscula mycorrhiza to several variety of corn plant (Zea mays L.) in Marginal dry land. The experiment was arranged based Randomized Block Design (RBD) consisted of eight treatments corn variety. The results showed that spore populations were found in rhizosphere of dominant weed was 792-901 spores 100 g-1 soil, 70-90% roots infection. Some genera found are Glomus, Gigasphora, Acaulospora, Entrophospora, Scutellospora. Symbiosis effect of arbuscula mycorrhiza with plant growth indicates that Phosphorus uptake was highest in Batu Putih variety. However the highest in yield was show in Dana variety. Compared with the lowest production, the production difference was higher in Dana 47.70%. Existence of arbuscula mycorrhiza in dominant weed rhizosphere in dry land is very high. The response of various varieties of maize plants to arbuscula mycorrhiza indicates that local varieties have a higher adaptability compared with introduction varieties.