A STUDY OF THE MYCORRHIZAL ASSOCIATION WITH VEGETATION ON COAL MINES SPOIL

Abstract

The paper deals with the mycorrhizal association with plant species occurring over 3 and 6 yr old coal mine
spoil overburden dumps from Orissa. Percentage of mycorrhizal infection among the colonising grass species
were recorded to be the maximum (95-96%) in Cynodon dactylon and minimum (25-47%) in Cyperus metzii.
Except Blumea lacera all the nongrass herbaceous species showed mycorrhizal infection (88-92%) in the
roots. Mycorrhizal infection were catagorised with 3 types i.e. hyphae, Arbuscule and vesicules,out of which
incidence of hyphal infection was recorded to be relatively high (>80%). From statistical analysis it is
confirmed that percentage of mycorrhizal root infection among different overburden with respect to age was
significant. However percentage of infection with respect to different species in different overburden didn’t
show significant variation. The study analysis the implications of mycorrhizal association with respect to
vegetational colonisation and mine spoil reclamation.