退化演替对高山草地植被和土壤理化特性影响

[目的]分析3种不同草地退化阶段(轻度退化,中度退化和重度退化)草地植被和土壤理化特性的变化规律,为类似区域退化草地植被恢复提供有效途径。[方法]野外植被调查、土壤取样和室内分析。[结果]草地退化不同阶段草地植物群落组成和物种多样性均有差异,退化对草地土壤理化特性有明显影响。重度退化草地土壤容重显著高于轻度退化草地(p0.05)。轻度和中度退化样地0—10cm土壤空隙度显著高于重度退化草地。重度退化草地的土壤有机质、全碳、全钾、全磷和有效钾均明显小于轻度退化草地(p0.05),但土壤pH值和有效氮含量没有显著变化。[结论]高山草地退化演替对该区土壤物理特性具有显著影响。     

东祁连山不同退化草地植物群落特征与土壤养分特性

为探究东祁连山不同退化草地植物群落特征、土壤养分特性及其相关性,以轻度退化草地、中度退化草地和重度退化草地为研究对象,采用野外调查、室内测定和数据统计分析相结合的方法,分析了不同退化草地植被特征、土壤养分特性及其之间的相关性。结果表明:(1)从轻度退化草地-重度退化草地,植物群落特征(地上生物量、高度、密度、频度和总盖度)整体呈现降低趋势,且差异显著(P<0.05),中度退化草地Margalef指数、Shannon指数和Evenness指数最高,Dominance指数最低;(2)研究区植物共有19科38属41种,生态适应性较强的植物主要集中在豆科、禾本科、菊科和蔷薇科,不同退化草地植被型分别为矮生嵩草(K.humilis)+赖草(Leymus secalinus)、矮生嵩草+高山唐松草(Thalictrum alpinum)、矮生嵩草+赖草,其中矮生嵩草是各退化草地的优势种,不同退化草地的功能群以杂类草占优势,其次是禾草类,毒草类所占的比例最少;(3)随草地退化程度加重,土壤速效氮、有效磷、有机碳和含水量呈降低的趋势,而pH整体呈现升高的趋势;(4)不同退化草地土壤因子对植被生长贡献率最高分别为速效氮、有效磷和含水量。综上,随着草地退化程度加重,植物群落结构向单一趋势过渡,土壤养分含量减少,且土壤因子对植物贡献率也相应发生变化。     

黑河中上游典型地区草地植被退化遥感动态监测

选择黑河中上游草地植被的典型区域,利用卫星遥感、GIS以及GPS定位测量技术,结合实地调查和采样测定,构造基于地面实测数据的草地植被退化指数,建立草地植被退化的遥感监测模型,并利用研究期2003年TM影像GPS定位点所对应的灰度数据,对1986年TM影像进行辐射特征标准化处理,监测草地植被退化的时空变化规律,旨在探讨通过TM影像数据结合野外样方数据,简单而快速评价草地植被退化的定量方法。结果表明：利用卫星遥感数据和地面草地样方实测数据,分析草地植被退化地面评价指标与遥感评价指标之间的关系,建立草地植被退化的遥感评价模型,能够较为快速、准确地监测和评价区域尺度的草地植被退化。研究区1986年轻度、中度和重度退化的面积分别为499.86、772.67和916.74 km2,2003年轻度、中度和重度退化的面积分别为322.23、815.20和1 015.84 km2。从草地植被的变化幅度、变化趋势和变化强度方面对比分析1986年和2003年的草地植被退化情况表明草地植被退化过程是一种慢速的渐变过程,重度退化、中度退化的比例较高而且呈增长趋势,总体态势仍旧呈现退化加剧、局部改善、整体恶化的变化格局。草场退化呈现由草原草场向荒漠化草原草场再向荒漠化草场演替的趋势。     

基于NDVI3g数据反演的青藏高原草地退化特征

利用NDVI3g数据反演青藏高原1986-2013年高寒草地植被盖度,并计算草地退化指数,以了解青藏高原高寒草地退化状况及其分布特征。结果表明,2011-2013年青藏高原草地退化指数为1.76,属轻度退化等级;退化面积达到41%,与历史平均水平（1986-2010）相比无显著变化,但中等以上退化面积有所增加。其中,轻度退化面积为22%、中度退化面积为8%、重度和极重度退化面积分别为6%和5%,而历史平均分别为28%、7%、4%和1%。从不同草地类型来看,高寒荒漠退化程度最严重,退化面积78%,退化指数为3.23,达到重度退化等级且表现出持续恶化趋势;而高寒草甸和高寒草原退化面积分别为31%和38%,退化指数分别为1.49和1.57,均属于轻度退化状态。从不同省域看,2011-2013年青藏高原新疆自治区范围内草地退化程度最为严重,退化草地面积所占比例为71%;青海省和西藏自治区草地退化比例也较大,分别达到42%和41%;甘肃、四川和云南草地退化比例较小,分别为25%、10%和12%。总体来看,青藏高原草地退化存在空间差异,与历史平均相比无显著变化,但局部有恶化趋势,尤其是高寒荒漠退化状况较为严重。     

退化高寒草地土壤养分、酶活性及生态化学计量特征

为探究不同退化高寒草地土壤特性的变化规律。对祁连山康乐、皇城和天祝试验点退化高寒草地(轻度退化草地、中度退化草地和重度退化草地)土壤养分含量及其生态化学计量学特征进行测定分析。结果表明:(1)各试验点土壤pH、电导率、含水量和有机质含量均随着土层深度的增加而降低,在0—20cm土层中,土壤pH呈现出升高趋势,电导率呈现出先升高后降低趋势;在20—40cm土层中,土壤pH呈现出先升高后降低趋势,电导率呈现出先降低后升高趋势,土壤含水量和有机质含量在0—20,20—40cm土层中均随着退化程度的加剧而逐渐降低。(2)不同草地土壤有机碳、全氮、全磷和全钾含量均随退化程度的加剧和土层深度的增加而逐渐降低,且各样地间差异显著(p0.05)。(3)在不同退化草地土壤不同土层中,C/N变化范围为19.10~40.48、C/P变化范围为87.85~121.97和N/P变化范围为4.10~6.76。(4)随草地退化程度加剧,土壤纤维素酶活性呈先上升后降低趋势,脲酶、中性磷酸酶、脱氢酶、蔗糖酶和氧化还原酶呈降低趋势。(5)通过土壤理化、酶活性及生态化学计量比间相关性和主成分分析表明,土壤理化、酶活性和土壤生态化学计量比指标可以敏感地反映出不同退化草地土壤质量状况。综上,祁连山不同程度退化高寒草地土壤已逐步恶化,应加强对该地区草地合理利用和科学管理。     

藏北高寒草原草地退化及其驱动力分析

藏北高寒草原是西藏畜牧业发展的核心区域.近年来,日趋严重的草地退化已从整体上影响并制约着区域经济的可持续发展.藏北高原自然环境严酷、生态系统脆弱,在全球变化的大背景下,随着人类干预强度和频度的不断提高,草地生态系统的退化正呈进一步加重的趋势.在阐述藏北高原草地退化现状的基础上,就藏北高原草地生态系统的退化成因进行了深入分析.     

不同退化程度高寒草原土壤微生物活性变化特征研究

以紫花针茅草原为研究对象,选择成土母质、土壤质地一致的区域4个,分别在冷季、暖季于每个区域的正常草地和轻度、中度、严重退化草地内按网格法采集土壤样品,分析测定了土壤微生物(细菌、真菌、放线菌)数量、土壤微生物量(C、N)、土壤酶(纤维素酶、脲酶、碱性磷酸酶)活性。结果表明,高寒、干旱条件下,草地退化程度、季节变化对高寒草原土壤生物活性均具有显著影响。暖季、冷季土壤细菌数量、微生物量(C、N)、酶活性(纤维素分解酶、脲酶、碱性磷酸酶)间均存在着相似甚至高度相关的变化趋势,暖季土壤生物活性基本呈轻度退化草地>正常草地>中度退化草地>严重退化草地;暖季真菌、放线菌数量与微生物量、酶活性间分呈不同程度的正相关和负相关,冷季则呈相反趋势。不同季节间,冷季土壤生物活性较暖季总体呈显著下降趋势。其中,正常草地和轻度、中度、严重退化草地土壤细菌暖季/冷季比分别为206.0、251.7、18.4和87.4,真菌、放线菌分别为14.7、1 132、0.6、0.9和0.1、10.5、10.0、14.9。微生物量(C、N)暖季/冷季比均呈轻度退化草地>正常草地>中度退化草地>严重退化草地,但微生物量氮的季节差异较大;暖季、冷季BC/BN比值亦基本呈同一趋势,冷季各类草地BC/BN值均明显高于暖季;各类草地BC/TC、BN/TN除严重退化草地外均呈暖季>冷季的趋势。暖季土壤脲酶活性远高于其他酶类,且暖季/冷季比(31.5~781.5)差异极大;冷季土壤纤维素分解酶,特别是碱性磷酸酶活性普遍高于暖季,暖季/冷季比分别在0.46~1.01和0.40~1.37之间。     

不同退化程度下的高寒草甸主要温室气体通量

青藏高原高寒草甸对于气候变化和人类活动敏感而脆弱,以高寒草甸4个退化阶段:原生草甸(NM)、轻度退化草甸(LM)、中度退化草甸(MM)和重度退化草甸(HM)为研究对象,利用静态箱法研究了草甸退化对于草地主要温室气体通量的影响。结果表明:不同放牧强度对于草地温室气体通量影响显著,重度退化草甸相比原生草甸CH_4吸收显著增加(p0.05),CO_2排放能力逐渐降低,N_2O排放能力显著增强(p0.05),放牧活动对于高寒草甸的影响首先表现在植被上,而土壤环境的变化相比植被更加迟滞,因此退化年限对于草地温室气体通量至关重要。通过逐步回归分析得知,草甸甲烷通量主要影响因子为土壤紧实度、有机质、植被盖度;二氧化碳通量主要影响因子为全磷、植被盖度、全氮;氧化亚氮通量主要影响因子为有机质、紧实度、死根,高寒草甸退化演替发展到重度退化阶段时释放大量温室气体。     

青藏高原高寒嵩草草甸植被群落特征对退化演替的响应

以空间代替时间的方法,于2012年7月中旬-8月中旬在青藏高原祁连山南麓分别选取原生、轻度、中度和重度4种不同退化梯度的高寒嵩草（Kobresia）草甸,对其土壤理化、水分特征和植被群落进行研究,以探究高寒嵩草草甸生态功能退化过程中植被群落的变化特征.结果表明,中度退化样地的地上生物量、表层（0-10cm）土壤含水量和降水地表入渗速率显著最小（P＜0.01）,表层地下生物量、表层土壤有机质、表层田间持水量和草毡层厚度显著最大（P＜0.01）.基于退化高寒嵩草草甸群落的植被功能群和群落多样性的非度量多维排序结果表明,其退化过程可明确划分为原生植被、轻度退化、中度退化和重度退化4个阶段,冠层高度、地上生物量、草毡层厚度和降水地表入渗速率对群落变化的相对贡献较大.植被群落对退化过程的响应为非平衡型（Non-equilibrium）,群落变化的“分水岭”存在于中度退化和重度退化之间.研究结果对退化嵩草草甸的恢复措施选择具有重要的指导意义.     

青海共和盆地封育季节草场生物量、种群与生境变化

试验研究青海共和盆地封育季节草场生物量、种群与生境变化结果表明,封育草地生物量和株高均高于未封育草地,且依据未封育与封育草地生物量之比,共和盆地草场退化等级为中度和重度;由于沙生和荒漠植被入侵并逐渐成为优势种或伴生优势种,退化草地优势物种生物量降低,依据其他物种与优势物种生物量之比,确定共和盆地草场退化等级<0.1为弱度,0.1~0.5为轻度,0.5~1.0为中度,1.0~5.0为重度,>5.0为严重,芨芨草草原处于中度、重度退化,针茅草原处于重度和严重退化;共和盆地封育草场存在两极恢复(原草场和新退化草场类型),而未封育草场只有单极退化(荒漠),故过牧不仅使共和盆地草地退化,且使草地生境不断恶化,荒漠化程度加剧;相反封育有利于草地恢复和生境改善。     

低氮和干旱胁迫对富士和秦冠生长及氮素利用的影响

【目的】以富士（Fuji）、 秦冠（Qinguan）嫁接在平邑甜茶（Malus hupehensis Rehd.）上的当年生盆栽苗为试验材料,采用砂培方法,研究了缺氮胁迫和干旱对富士和秦冠生长情况、 光合参数、 植株各部位氮磷钾含量及氮素利用效率的影响,分析比较了低氮干旱条件下富士和秦冠生长及氮素利用的差异,以期为果树生产高效肥水利用提供理论指导。【方法】试验共设四个处理: 正常氮正常水（ZZ）、 低氮正常水（DZ）、 正常氮干旱（ZG）、 低氮干旱（DG）。氮素和水分均设置两个水平,分别为正常氮（6 mmol/L NO-3-N）、 低氮（0.3 mmol/LNO-3-N）、 正常供水（保持盆中砂子相对含水量为饱和含水量的80%~85%）、 干旱处理（保持盆中砂子相对含水量为饱和含水量的60%~65%）。【结果】富士和秦冠的生物量（茎和叶）、 株高茎粗等生长指标以及光合速率、 气孔导度、 蒸腾速率均为正常氮正常水（ZZ）＞低氮正常水（DZ）＞正常氮干旱（ZG）＞低氮干旱（DG）,并且相对应处理下秦冠的以上指标均高于富士;正常供水下,缺氮处理使富士、 秦冠的根冠比比正常氮处理均有所增加,富士提高了2.05%,秦冠提高了22.40%。富士和秦冠的氮、 磷、 钾含量均表现出正常氮正常水（ZZ）＞低氮正常水（DZ）＞正常氮干旱（ZG）＞低氮干旱（DG）; 氮、 钾元素含量在植株各部位的分布顺序依次是叶＞根＞茎,磷元素则是根＞叶＞茎;光合氮素利用效率（PNUE）和氮素利用效率表现为秦冠处理之间差异极显著,富士处理之间差异不显著;秦冠的PNUE和NUE明显高于富士,在低氮正常水（DZ）处理下,秦冠氮肥利用率比富士高42.07%,在低氮干旱（DG）处理下高64.14%;低氮胁迫下富士和秦冠的NUE显著提高,并且秦冠提高的幅度高于富士。【结论】施用氮肥能够显著提高富士与秦冠的干物质量,同等水肥条件下,秦冠生长优于富士;水分亏缺会减少叶片对氮的吸收,干旱条件下适度增施氮肥,可提高果树的抗旱能力;低氮干旱胁迫下秦冠的生长指标、 光合指标及氮素利用效率指标均优于富士,表现出较强的抗低氮干旱胁迫的能力。     

Pasture Vegetation Elemental Analysis by Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy

Laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) is a new technique for the analysis of plant material. This study investigates the application of LIBS to pasture-based plant samples. The LIBS measurements were obtained from pelletized pasture samples (100 samples) that had been also analyzed by inductively coupled plasma–optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES) following microwave digestion for calibration and comparison purposes. Comparisons for elements sodium (Na), potassium (K), magnesium (Mg), calcium (Ca), manganese (Mn), iron (Fe), copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), boron (B), phosphorus (P), and sulfur (S) showed that LIBS could be used for almost all the standard profile total elements with concentrations down to low mg/kg levels (observed error of Na: 0.024 percent, K: 0.18 percent, Mg: 0.016 percent, Ca: 0.073 percent, P: 0.017 percent, Mn: 31 mg/kg, Fe: 150 mg/kg, Zn: 6.6 mg/kg, and B: 1.1 mg/kg). Elemental analysis at less than mg/kg levels was not possible using LIBS. The elements S and Cu were particularly difficult to analyze with reliability using LIBS at the concentration levels found in the plant samples. Replacing microwave digestion and subsequent ICP analysis with a direct analysis of dried plant samples using LIBS has the potential to improve the productivity and reduce the cost of testing.     

Faculty positions:Center for Agricultural Resources Research,Chinese Academy of Sciences

正The Center for Agricultural Resources Research(CARR),the Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology(IGDB),Chinese Academy of Sciences,invites applicants for several research group leader positions.CARR is one of the research organizations in Chinese Academy of Sciences(CAS).We seek nominations and applications from individuals who have expertise and a record of accomplishment in research areas related to ecology,agro-hydrology,     

Macroinvertebrates in North American tallgrass prairie soils: effects of fire, mowing, and fertilization on density and biomass

The responses of tallgrass prairie plant communities and ecosystem processes to fire and grazing are well characterized. However, responses of invertebrate consumer groups, and particularly soil-dwelling organisms, to these disturbances are not well known. At Konza Prairie Biological Station, we sampled soil macroinvertebrates in 1994 and 1999 as part of a long-term experiment designed to examine the effects and interactions of annual fire, mowing, and fertilization (N and P) on prairie soil communities and processes. For nearly all taxa, in both years, responses were characterized by significant treatment interactions, but some general patterns were evident. Introduced European earthworms (Aporrectodea spp. and Octolasion spp.) were most abundant in plots where fire was excluded, and the proportion of the total earthworm community consisting of introduced earthworms was greater in unburned, unmowed, and fertilized plots. Nymphs of two Cicada genera were collected (Cicadetta spp. and Tibicen spp.). Cicadetta nymphs were more abundant in burned plots, but mowing reduced their abundance. Tibicen nymphs were collected almost exclusively from unburned plots. Treatment effects on herbivorous beetle larvae (Scarabaeidae, Elateridae, and Curculionidae) were variable, but nutrient additions (N or P) usually resulted in greater densities, whereas mowing usually resulted in lower densities. Our results suggest that departures from historical disturbance regimes (i.e. frequent fire and grazing) may render soils more susceptible to increased numbers of European earthworms, and that interactions between fire, aboveground biomass removal, and vegetation responses affect the structure and composition of invertebrate communities in tallgrass prairie soils.     

Variation in quality parameters between and within 14 Nordic tree fruit and berry species

Abstract

A 3-year study was carried out to investigate quality parameters in 14 tree fruit and berry species grown in southern Norway. The species were blueberry, apple, aronia, sour cherry, sweet cherry, red raspberry, strawberry, blackcurrant, gooseberry, red currant and elderberry, harvested along with wild bilberry, cloudberry and lingonberry. Significant differences between species were identified for all quality parameters. The coefficient of variation between species was lowest for pH (12.5%), dry matter (18.9%) and soluble solids (25.3%), followed by titratable acids (59.3%), total phenolics (83.8%), antioxidant capacity FRAP (85.7%) and antiradical power by the DPPH-assay (97.8%), total monomeric anthocyanins (132%) and ascorbic acid (137%). Average coefficient of variation within species were lower and ranged from 4 (pH) to 62% (ascorbic acid). Only the FRAP values were significantly affected by harvesting year with lower levels in 2004 than in 2005 and 2006. There were significant interactions between species and harvesting year for dry matter, soluble solids, pH, ascorbic acid and FRAP. The results indicate generic ranges in composition within species independent upon growing location and climate, and the composition of the tree fruits and berries is not likely to deviate from these ranges. It is concluded that desirable composition of tree fruits and berries and their products should primarily be achieved by selection among species rather than searching fors broadened variation within individual species.     

Potassium Fixation and Release Characteristics in Rhizosphere and Nonrhizosphere Soils for a Rapeseed–Rice Cropping Sequence

Potassium (K) fixation and release in soil are important factors in the long-term sustainability of a cropping system. Changes in K concentration and characteristics of K fixation and release in rhizosphere and nonrhizosphere soils in the rapeseed (Brassica napus L.)–rice (Oryza sativa L.) rotation were investigated using a rhizobox system. The concentrations of different forms of K in both rhizosphere and nonrhizosphere soils decreased with plants compared to without plants, regardless of K fertilizer application. Potassium uptake by crops mainly came from the rhizosphere soil. In the treatment without K fertilizer (–K), the main form of K supplied by the soil to the crops was 1.0 mol L^?1 nitric acid (HNO₃) nonextractable K, followed by nonexchangeable K, and then exchangeable K. In the treatment with K fertilizer (+K), the main K forms supplied by the soil to the crops were exchangeable K and nonexchangeable K. The amount and rate of K fixation after one cycle of the rapeseed–rice rotation was greater in rhizosphere soil than in nonrhizosphere soil. The amount and rate of K fixation of soil in the +K treatment were significantly less than in the –K treatment. The cumulative amounts of K released with 1.0 mol L^?1 ammonium acetate (NH₄OAc) and 1.0 mol L^?1 HNO₃ extraction increased with the increasing numbers of extractions, but the K-releasing power of soil by successive extraction decreased gradually and finally became almost constant. The release of K was less in rhizosphere soil than in nonrhizosphere soil. The release of K in the +K treatment was similar to that in the –K treatment in rhizosphere soil, but the K release in nonrhizosphere soil was greater with the +K than the –K treatment. Overall, the information obtained in this study will be helpful in formulating more precise K fertilizer recommendations for certain soils.     

Increase in auxiliary photoprotective photosynthetic pigments in wheat seedlings induced by Azospirillum brasilense

Inoculation of wheat seedlings with the plant growth-promoting bacterium Azospirillum brasilense Cd was immobilized in alginate microbeads and, without applying any stress, significantly increased the quantity of several photosynthetic pigments, such as chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, and the auxiliary photoprotective pigments violaxanthin, zeaxanthin, antheroxanthin, lutein, neoxanthin, and β-carotene. This resulted in greener plants with no apparent visible stress. After monitoring the quantity of photosynthetic pigments for 4 weeks, we observed that inoculated plants had higher quantities of pigments in shoot and stem. The greatest difference in the quantity of all pigments between inoculated and noninoculated plants occurred in the first week of growth. Regardless of treatment, the quantity of pigments in stems was three to four times less than the quantity of these pigments in shoots. Application of Azospirillum, either as liquid inoculant or as alginate microbeads, did not alter the positive effect of the bacteria on pigment production or the positive response of the plants towards A. brasilense Cd inoculation.     

In-situ enrichment and analysis of atrazine-degrading microbial communities using atrazine-containing porous beads

We examined the community composition of microbes that colonized atrazine-containing beads buried in agricultural soils that differed in atrazine treatment history. Bacterial abundance was 5-40-fold greater in atrazine-fortified beads. In beads containing 20 mg atrazine kg⁻¹ buried in soil with a history of atrazine application (conditioned soil), the abundance of Actinobacteria increased approximately 80-fold whereas in control soil, Actinobacteria were enriched only 10-fold and the gamma-Proteobacteria and Planctomycetes increased by 60- and 25-fold, respectively. The gamma-Proteobacteria were enriched by 120- and 230-fold in beads containing 200 mg atrazine kg⁻¹ in conditioned and control soil, respectively. The results demonstrate that BioSep^® beads are a suitable matrix for recruiting a diverse subset of the bacterial community involved in atrazine degradation.     

Genetic similarities among Spanisch populations of Agropyron, Elymus and Thinopyrum, using PCR-based markers

Arbitrary oligonucleotides were used as primers to amplifygenomic DNA of 48 wild Spanish populations of Agropyroncristatum, Elymus hispanicus,E. caninus,E. repens,Thinopyrum curvifolium, Th.junceum and Th.intermedium. Genetic diversity was analysedusing nineteen primers. The number of amplified products ranged from8 to 18 per primer and a total of 240 markers were scored. Differentlevels of intraspecific genetic diversity were found, the allogamousspecies E. repens andTh. intermedium being themost variable. Jaccard's similarity coefficients for internalmeasure within and between populations were used to produce a clusterdiagram. The results demonstrate differences in the degree ofsimilarity between taxonomic units. Interpopulational variability andinterspecific genomic relationships of these species arediscussed.     

Mycorrhizae,biocides, and biocontrol. 4. Response of a mixed culture of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and host plant to three fungicides

The effects of three commonly used fungicides on the colonization and sporulation by a mixture of three arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi consisting of Glomus etunicatum (Becker & Gerd.), Glomus mosseae (Nicol. & Gerd.) Gerd. & Trappe, and Gigaspora rosea (Nicol. & Schenck) in symbiosis with pea plants and the resulting response of the host-plant were examined. Benomyl, PCNB, and captan were applied as soil drenches at a rate of 20 mg active ingredient kg^-1 soil 2 weeks after transplanting pea seedlings in a silty clay-loam soil containing the mixed inocula of AM fungi (AM plants). Effects of fungicides were compared to untreated plants that were inoculated with fungi (AM control). The effect of mycorrhizal inoculation on plant growth was also examined by including nonmycorrhizal, non-fungicide-treated plants (non-AM control). Fungicides or inoculation with AM fungi had only a small effect on the final shoot weights of pea plants, but had greater effects on root length and seed yield. AM control plants had higher seed yields and lower root lengths than the corresponding non-AM plants, and the fungicide-treated AM plants had intermediate yields and root lengths. Seed N and P contents were likewise highest in AM control plants, lowest in non-AM plants, and intermediate in fungicide-treated AM plants. All three fungicides depressed the proportion (%) of root length colonized by AM fungi, but these differences did not translate to reductions in the total root length that was colonized, since roots were longer in the fungicide-treated AM plants. Pea plants apparently compensated for the reduction in AM-fungal metabolism due to fungicides by increasing root growth. Fungicides affected the population of the three fungi as determined by sporulation at the final harvest. Captan significantly reduced the number, relative abundance, and relative volume of G. rosea spores in the final population relative to the controls. The relative volume of G. etunicatum spores was greater in all the fungicide-treated soils, while G. mosseae relative volumes were only greater in the captan-treated soil. These findings show that fungicides can alter the species composition of an AM-fungal community. The results also show that AM fungi can increase seed yield without enhancing the vegetative shoot growth of host plants.