Nutrient availability and corn growth in a poultry litter biochar‐amended loam soil in a greenhouse experiment

Nutrient‐rich biochar produced from animal wastes, such as poultry litter, may increase plant growth and nutrient uptake although the role of direct and indirect mechanisms, such as stimulation of the activity of mycorrhizal fungi and plant infection, remains unclear. The effects of poultry litter biochar in combination with fertilizer on mycorrhizal infection, soil nutrient availability and corn (Zea mays L.) growth were investigated by growing corn in a loam soil in a greenhouse with biochar (0, 5 and 10 Mg/ha) and nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) fertilizer (0, half and full rates). Biochar did not affect microbial biomass C or N, mycorrhizal infection, or alkaline phosphomonoesterase activities, but acid phosphomonoesterase activities, water‐soluble P, Mehlich‐3 Mg, plant height, aboveground and root biomass, and root diameter were greater with 10 Mg/ha than with no biochar. Root length, volume, root tips and surface area were greatest in the fully fertilized soil receiving 10 Mg/ha biochar compared to all other treatments. The 10 Mg/ha biochar application may have improved plant access to soil nutrients by promoting plant growth and root structural features, rather than by enhancing mycorrhizal infection rates.     

Black polyethylene mulch improves growth of plantation-grown loblolly pine and yellow-poplar

The effects of mulching with perforated black plastic, in combination with fertilization and induced mycorrhizal symbioses, on the growth of loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.) and yellow-poplar (Liriodendron tulipifera L.) were studied in a plantation under intensive, short rotation management. Mulching effects on soil temperature were also examined in order to assess the potential influence of this treatment on temperature-dependent processes in soils affecting tree growth. Mulching significantly increased height and stem diameter growth of both species, attributable largely to improved water relations resulting from diminished soil surface evaporation and elimination of transpirational losses from competing vegetation. Mulching effects on soil temperature were insufficient to contribute substantially to the growth response exhibited by mulched trees. Multiple applications of urea-N promoted enhanced growth in both loblolly pine and yellow-poplar, an effect accentuated by mulching, but the field performance of trees inoculated in the nursery with selected mycorrhizal fungi was poor relative to that of the other treatments investigated.     

Effects of VA mycorrhizae and Frankia dual inoculation on growth and nitrogen fixation of Hippophae tibetana

Through biological inoculation technology, the joint symbiosis of Tibetan seabuckthorn (Hippophae tibetana) in pure culture was identified and the effects of dual inoculation with Frankia and mycorrhizal fungi on the host plants in pot cultures were investigated. The results obtained from the comparative study showed that H. tibetana could form nodules and VA mycorrhiza both in pot and pure cultures. VA mycorrhizae and Frankia can stimulate the growth and the nitrogen fixation ability of host plants, respectively, yet the stimulation of the dual inoculation on the growth and nitrogen fixation ability of the host plants was more significant (p<0.05): stronger nitrogen-fixing ability, higher VA mycorrhizal development and better growth of seedlings in VAH and HR16 dual inoculation.     

松树Pt菌剂育苗菌根化研究*

分别用Ｐｉｓｏｌｉｔｈｕｓｔｉｎｃｔｏｒｉｕｓ（Ｐｔ）菌根真菌重分离与母菌株培养物的比较及菌根子实体鉴定等方法，确证Ｐｔ菌剂人工接种的成功；并用照片描述形成Ｐｔ菌根的外部形态和解剖结构；发现典型外生菌根真菌──ｐｔ在苗圃人工接种条件下，可与松苗形成内外生菌根。结合生产大田应用试验，证明中国林业科学研究院林木菌根研究开发中心研制的Ｐｔ菌根剂具有明显的菌根化效果，和促进苗木生长、提高生物产量的作用。所试４种松树菌根化率均为１００％，Ｐｔ指数在８４以上，提高合格苗产量１４．６％以上，平均苗高、地径、干物重、侧根数和根系总长分别增加２８．１％～７１．４％、２２．８％～４９．２％、６６．７％～４５７．１％、１２８．０％～２００．０％和８２．４％～１０１．０％。     

生草栽培对柑桔丛枝茵根形成及果实品质的影响

试验以枳砧锦橙（Citrus sinensis Osbeck．）初结果树为试材。试验设4个处理，分别为柑桔园间作百喜草（Bahia grass）（Paspalum notaturn Flugge）、白三叶草（White clover）（Trifolium repens L．）、紫花苜蓿（Alfalfa）（Medicago sativa L．）和多年生黑麦草（Perennial ryegrass）（Lolium perenne L．），以清耕为对照。单行小区，随机区组排列，3次重复。结果表明，在干旱季节，所有生草处理区都显著改善了根际土壤水分和温度状况．而百喜草和白三叶草生草区土壤丛枝菌根真菌孢子数和柑桔根系菌根侵染率显著高于清耕区和其它生草区。表明在干旱季节．百喜草和白三叶草生草栽培促进了果园土壤丛枝菌根真菌的生长和柑桔根系菌根的形成，从而促进了柑桔根系对水分和磷素营养的吸收利用。试验结果表明果园管理中宜选择菌根侵染率高的草种如百喜草、白三叶草在柑桔园进行生草栽培，促进柑桔根系菌根形成，改善植株生理代谢，提高果品质量。     

Infection of valuable broadleaf hardwood trees by Glomus mosseae: growth and mineral nutrition

In the past century, the excessive exploitation of the environment by human beings has resulted in the depletion of valuable broadleaf hardwood trees in Italian forests, creating a need for re-forestation. The aim of this research was to verify whether a vescicular-arbuscular mycorrhizal (VAM) fungus is able to colonise the root of valuable hardwood trees and to evaluate the impact of the VAM fungus on growth and macroelement nutrition of its plant hosts.Four species of valuable broadleaf hardwood trees, Prunus avium L., Fraxinus excelsior L., Acer pseudoplatanus L., and Juglans nigra L., were inoculated with Glomus mosseae, a VAM fungus, and cultivated in a greenhouse. Infection after inoculation and root colonization by the fungus, tree growth, and macro-element nutrition were evaluated two-years after inoculation. G. mosseae formed mycorrhizae on all plants. However, different morphological aspects - predominantly the formation of Arum type arbuscles in P. avium and F. excelsior - were observed. A general improvement of macro-element nutrition from species to species characterised an enhanced growth of mycorrhizal plants. Therefore, it is plausible that the association of VAMs with these broadleaf trees, could overcome the difficulties encountered in the transplanting and the slow growth typical of these tree species.Although numerous articles have reported the beneficial effects of ectomycorrhizal fungi on trees, there is a sparse literature on the association of VAM with tree species. Therefore, this study contributes to the understanding of the role of the symbiosis between valuable broadleaf trees and VAM fungi in macroelement nutrition.     

桔园生草对丛枝菌根形成及果实品质的影响

试验以枳砧温州蜜柑成年树为试材。试验设土壤水分胁迫下百喜草生草区和清耕区2个处理,以清耕加轻度灌水为对照,4次重复。结果表明利用高菌根侵染率的百喜草在柑桔园进行生草管理,在土壤水分胁迫下,显著地提高了柑桔根系丛枝菌根侵染率及土壤丛枝菌根菌孢子数。菌根侵染率的提高改善了柑桔果实的品质,特别是促进了柑桔果皮的着色。生草管理还蓄养了土壤水分。     

丛枝菌根真菌根内菌丝碱性磷酸酶活性与菌根共生效应的研究

试验研究 3种丛枝菌根真菌根内菌丝碱性磷酸酶活性与菌根共生效应的结果表明 ,3种丛枝菌根真菌对宿主植物的效应不同 ,与接种G .spp处理和未接种对照相比 ,接种G .m和G .i处理显著增加玉米地上部和根系干物质量、P浓度和吸P量 ,但后两者间无显著差异 ;而接种G .spp处理与对照无显著差异。播种后 35d时接种G .m和G .i处理根内菌丝碱性磷酸酶活性显著高于接种G .spp处理 ,而前二者间无显著差异 ,且随生长时间的变化趋势相似 ,35d时酶活性最高 ,35～ 5 0d呈迅速下降趋势 ,至 70d时酶活性仍下降且趋于平缓。G .spp酶活性则一直处于较低水平 ,随生长时间的延长略有起伏。即接种不同丛枝菌根真菌时 ,根内菌丝碱性磷酸酶活性高的菌根真菌对玉米生长促进作用较大 ,可提高玉米P营养状况 ;反之则对玉米生长和P营养状况无明显促进作用 ,且与对照无显著差异。出苗后 35d时根内菌丝碱性磷酸酶活性是预测丛枝菌根真菌对玉米生长效应的有效生理指标之一。     

Use of nutrient: phosphorus ratios to evaluate the effects of vesicular arbuscular mycorrhiza on nutrient uptake in unsterilized soils

Summary Red clover was grown in soil previously treated with P at various rates, and growth, nutrient uptake, nutrient uptake in relation to phosphorus values, and levels of vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizal (VAM) infection were determined. The soil was a silty clay loam and Glomus lacteum was the only fungus colonizing the plant roots. An examination of the effects of various rates of P application and of VAM colonization on nutrient (P, K, Ca, Mg, Mn, Fe, and Zn) uptake showed that the Mg : P ratio significantly increased and the Mn : P ratio significantly decreased with increasing VAM infection. It is concluded that in the Trifolium pratense-Glomus lacteum symbiosis, mycorrhizae improve Mg uptake and depress Mn uptake.     

Growth and Nutrient Content of Trifoliate Orange Seedlings Influenced by Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi Inoculation in Low Magnesium Soil

A pot experiment was conducted to examine the effects of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, Glomus versiforme, G. mosseae, and G. intraradices on growth and nutrition of trifoliate orange (Poncirus trifoliata) seedlings under magnesium (Mg)-nontreated and Mg-treated conditions. Whether treated with Mg or not, G. versiforme inoculation significantly enhanced the growth and concentrations of Mg, phosphorus, calcium, potassium, zinc, and copper in shoots or roots, and activities of acid phosphatase, catalase, invertase, and urease in rhizosphere soils. Additionally, there were higher levels of chlorophyll, proline, soluble sugar and protein in leaves, root viability, superoxide dismutase, peroxidase and catalase in leaves and roots, but lower malondialdehyde content in leaves and roots of mycorrhizal seedlings than non-mycorrhizal ones. Data demonstrated that G. versiforme-inoculated citrus seedlings exhibited higher levels of soil enzymes, osmoregulation, and antioxidant matters, leading to improvement of growth and nutrition of seedlings in low Mg soil.