Low-Cost Technologies for AMF Inoculum Production Using Various Agro-Wastes and Other by-Products

Over the past few decades, several techniques have been developed for large scale production of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF). Utilizing low-cost organic wastes to produce AMF inoculum appears to be a promising method. In addition, organic wastes, as an excellent potting media, significantly enhance AMF sporulation. The AMF inoculum is produced more frequently using the substrate-based culture approaches on maize and sorghum as trap plants. For example, the use of soybean processing mill wastes with vermicompost to sand: soil mix results in more AMF propagules. Substrate-based methods not only produce high quality of AMF propagules but also found to be cost effective. The aim of this chapter is to provide the updated information on various production technologies of AMF, development in substrate-based production method, suitability of organic wastes as substrate, and associated regulatory mechanism to ensure the quality and cost of end product.