Symbiotic effectiveness of arbuscular mycorrhizal technology and Azotobacterization in citrus nursery production under soil disinfestation and moisture conservation practices

► Twelve AM fungi and two strains of A. chroococcum from citrus orchards of Shiwalik hill range of north-western Himalayan region of India were isolated. ► Glomus fasciculatum (Gf), G. macrocarpum (Gma), G. mosseae (Gmo), G. epigeaum (Ge), G. magnicaule (Gmag), G. sinuosum (Gs), Gigaspora albida (Galb), G. heterogamma (Ghet), G. margarita (Gmar), Entrophospora spp., Scutellospora pellucid (Spell) and S. calospora (Scal), and AZ1, AZ2 strains were abundant. ► Two potent AM species (Gf, Gma), A. chroococcum strains (AZ1, AZ2) were screened under disinfestation and mulch practices for sustainable citrus nursery production. ► Soil inoculation of Gf, AZ1 at solarized plastic mulching significantly increased vegetative growth, microbial population and leaf nutrient concentration in the saplings.