Effect of arbuscular mycorrhizae and humic acid on water use efficiency and physiological growth indices of maize under water deficit condition

The effect of arbuscular mycorrhizae and humic acid on water use efficiency and physiological growth indices of maize was studied at three water regimes. The research was carried out in an farm experiment using a split plot factorial based randomized complete block dasign with three replications. Main plot included three levels of under water deficit condition (100%FC, 66%FC, and 33%FC); and sub plot included two species of mycorrhizae (M1: Glomus mosseae , M2: Glomus intraradices and M0: non application of mycorrhizae) and two levels of humic acid. (application of humic acid (H1) non application of humic acid (H0)). Results showed that the application of arbuscular mycorrhizae, humic acid, and normal condition (no water deficit), increased leaf area index, crop growth rate, relative growth rate and total dry matter. The above mentioned characteristics were decreased under water deficit condition, non application of mycorrhizae and non application of humic acid. Application of mycorrhizae and humic acid significantly increased water use efficiency. The intraction effects of water deficit and mycorrhizae, was statisticaly significant. The highest water use efficiency (2-5 Kg/m³) occured under water deficit condition (33% FC) and Glomus mosseae species. The lowest amount of water use efficiency (1.31 Kg/m³) observed with non application of mycorrhizae under normal condition (no water deficit).