水蚀风蚀交错区典型流域景观格局变化对土壤侵蚀过程的影响

流域土壤侵蚀过程与景观格局的关系是评价流域景观格局合理性的关键问题。以GIS软件为分析平台,以最新提出的"源""汇"景观理论为基础,以水蚀风蚀交错区典型流域——六道沟流域1995,2010年土地利用/覆被格局为分析对象,以淤地坝淤积量作为土壤侵蚀监测信息,利用景观空间负荷对比指数分别分析了这2个时期各景观类型随空间要素配置、贡献权重和组成比例对土壤侵蚀过程的影响,最后对该指数的变化与土壤侵蚀模数的变化进行相关性分析。结果表明:2010年与1995年相比,六道沟流域各集水区的相对高度、坡度、投影距离、运移距离负荷对比指数均呈减小趋势,景观格局分布更加合理,水土流失危险性降低,与同期土壤侵蚀模数变化趋势相同。坡度负荷对比指数增量与土壤侵蚀模数增量相关性较弱,相对高度、投影距离、运移距离负荷对比指数增量与土壤侵蚀模数增量呈显著正相关,运移距离负荷对比指数反映土壤侵蚀过程对景观格局变化响应的效果最好。景观格局负荷对比指数与土壤侵蚀实测值之间均存在较大差异,应进一步改进模拟方法以达到准确量化的目标。坡度负荷对比指数不能很好地解释景观格局对土壤侵蚀过程的影响,需要在坡度取值方式上加以改进。     

基于GIS和USLE的龙墩水库小流域土壤侵蚀评估研究

本研究以南京市高淳区龙墩水库流域为研究对象,利用通用土壤流失方程(USLE)模型与地理信息系统(GIS)技术结合的方法对流域土壤侵蚀进行模拟预测。结果表明:整个流域年均土壤侵蚀模数为4 343.46 t/km~2,属中度侵蚀。整个流域微度和轻度侵蚀所占面积比例相对较大,两者所占面积比例之和超过了63%,极强度和剧烈侵蚀虽然所占面积较小,但却产生了超过了70%的侵蚀量。不同土地利用类型中土壤侵蚀强度差异较大,年均侵蚀模数旱田草地水田林地,侵蚀量旱田水田草地林地。通过GIS将整个流域划分为13个子流域,子流域4、5、10由于区域内大部分是旱田,土壤侵蚀模数较大,为流域内土壤侵蚀的关键源区,子流域10侵蚀模数和侵蚀量都比较大,应该重点关注;而子流域1、9和12由于侵蚀总量较大,也应该保持一定的关注。所有子流域土壤侵蚀量都主要来自高强度侵蚀等级,其中以剧烈侵蚀为主。因此,控制土壤侵蚀应该优先考虑高强度侵蚀等级区域。     

植被格局特征对大理河流域侵蚀产沙的响应

为了进一步研究植被覆盖FBM(fractional brownian motion)分形维数在不同流域中对植被覆盖特征的综合效果及作为固定参数代替现有的植被量化指标在实际的水文、土壤侵蚀等预测模型中的应用,该文通过对大理河流域上中下游青阳岔、李家河和曹坪3个水文站控制流域的降雨、径流和产沙等资料的全面综合分析,以次降雨径流侵蚀功率作为侵蚀外营力输入,通过对站控流域地貌特征FBM分形维数、植被景观格局FBM分形维数和NDVI植被指数作为描述下垫面特征,以地理信息系统(GIS)为平台,利用GIS和RS技术,构建大理河流域侵蚀产沙量多元线性回归模型,并通过2组不同参数预测结果对比,结果表明:以植被格局分形维数为植被量化参数的模型输沙模数模拟值与实测值之间的相对误差和绝对误差比以NDVI为植被量化参数的小;在38场次暴雨洪水中,基于植被格局分形维数为植被量化参数的模型次暴雨输沙模数模拟值与实测值之间的相对误差小于10%、20%、50%的分别占总场次的34.21%、55.26%、86.85%;38场次暴雨输沙模数的模拟值和实测值之间的平均相对误差为25.19%,其中模拟值与实测值绝对误差小于300 t/km2有31场,植被格局FBM分形维数可以更好反映植被覆盖与水土流失之间的关系,并且分析得到植被格局分形维数与土壤侵蚀强度之间呈负相关关系,决定系数为0.5066,即土壤侵蚀强度随着植被格局FBM分析维数的增大呈减小趋势,说明植被格局FBM分形维数对土壤侵蚀强度的影响较大.     

水蚀风蚀交错区流域景观格局变化及水沙响应关系

为揭示土壤侵蚀最为剧烈的水蚀风蚀交错区下垫面景观格局变化对流域降雨产流、侵蚀产沙的影响程度,以水蚀风蚀交错区典型流域西柳沟为研究对象,根据Landsat TM影像数据和流域长系列水沙实测数据资料,借助GIS和Fragstats平台,分析流域景观格局和水沙变化特征,探讨景观指数与径流输沙的关系.结果表明:1)流域优势景观类型为草地,从斑块数量和面积变化率来分析,1985-2010年间耕地、林地和建设用地稳定性最高,其次为未利用土地.未利用土地、草地和耕地的转化最为剧烈,受人类活动影响最大.2)流域年径流量和年输沙量的年际差异显著;同年输沙量相比,径流量的减小趋势变化更为明显;径流泥沙相关关系显著,相关系数为0.67.3)景观指数与径流量、泥沙量呈显著线性相关,其中径流量与最大斑块指数、斑块结合度、聚集度指标和蔓延度指数均呈负相关,而与景观形态指数、景观分割度呈正相关;而泥沙仅与蔓延度指数、聚集度指标和斑块结合度成负相关,与其他景观指数呈正相关.研究结果表明,随着景观最大斑块指数、斑块结合度以及聚集度指数的提高,流域降雨入渗量明显增加,土壤侵蚀量明显减少;因此,提高流域景观最大斑块指数、斑块结合度以及聚集度指数可以增强水蚀风蚀交错区内流域的蓄水保土功能及生态优化作用,研究结果可为流域生态环境建设和水土资源综合利用提供理论支撑.     

基于GIS和USLE的九龙江流域土壤侵蚀量预测研究

探讨了GIS和USLE相结合预测南方中等尺度流域土壤侵蚀量、标识流域土壤侵蚀严重区域。运用GIS建立九龙江流域基础地理数据库，利用ARC／INFO的栅格数据空间分析功能，根据USLE土壤侵蚀预测模型对数据库进行图形运算，预测了九龙江流域的土壤侵蚀量。结果表明，流域的年均侵蚀模数为2730．3t／km^2，侵蚀强度属中度。占流域面积85．72％的区域土壤侵蚀强度在中度以下。这一区域对流域土壤侵蚀量的贡献率为58．26％，而流域41．74％的侵蚀泥沙来自于占流域面积14．28％的强度以上侵蚀区域。在流域侵蚀强度的空间分布上，8个子流域属中度侵蚀区，其中船场溪、花山溪和雁石溪三个子流域侵蚀强度较大；6个子流域属轻度侵蚀区，其中漳州平原的龙海和浦南两子流域侵蚀强度最弱。     

基于RUSLE模型的祖厉河流域土壤侵蚀时空分异特征分析

以祖厉河流域为研究区,借助RS的图像信息提取技术,对研究区遥感影像进行校正与信息提取。利用GIS的栅格数据空间分析功能,将研究区空间离散化为30 m×30 m的栅格单元。根据修正的通用土壤流失方程RUSLE生成因子栅格图,借助GIS空间分析功能,实现研究区的土壤侵蚀评估模拟。研究结果表明:祖厉河流域1995、2005和2015年土壤侵蚀模数分别为2 877.87、3 372.24和3 713.23 t/(km2·a);从侵蚀量变化来看,1995、2005、2015年土壤流失量分别为2 960.84万、3 469.46万、3 820.28万t。从土壤侵蚀量空间分布和侵蚀量变化来看,研究区土壤侵蚀程度呈现南北低、中部高,河流深切区低、高山林立区高的特点。     

基于GIS的祖厉河流域土壤侵蚀治理模式模拟研究

借助RS图像信息提取技术,对祖厉河流域遥感影像进行校正与信息提取。利用GIS栅格数据空间分析功能,将研究区空间化为30m×30m的栅格单元。根据土壤流失方程RUSLE生成各因子栅格图,借助GIS空间分析功能,实现该区土壤侵蚀评估模拟。结果表明:祖厉河流域1995年、2005年、2015年土壤侵蚀模数分别为2 877,3 372,3 713t/(km2·a);从侵蚀量变化来看,1995年总土壤流失总量为29 608 397t/a,2005年总土壤流失总量为34 694 588t/a,2015年总土壤流失总量为38 202 817t/a,年平均流失模数为3 713t/(km2·a)。从土壤侵蚀空间分布和侵蚀量变化来看,研究区土壤侵蚀度呈现南北低、中部高;河流深切区低,高山林立区高的特点。针对研究区,提出4种模拟治理并进行验证,分析得出完全采取人工提升林区植被增长速度,主要包括全力发展坡地退耕还林还草的高效治理模式是该区最佳治理模式,可有效改善土壤流失状况,使平均土壤流失模数降为2 656t/(km2·a)。     

基于SWAT模型的黄土高原典型区水土流失格局模拟评价

运用分布式生态水文模型SWAT对黄土高原典型区汭河流域的本底径流深度、本底侵蚀模数、现状径流深度、现状侵蚀模数分别进行了模拟研究,并以本底径流深度和本底侵蚀深度为标准分别对流域的现状径流和现状侵蚀进行定量空间评价。研究结果表明:(1)SWAT模型能够准确地模拟汭河流域水土流失总量及其空间格局。(2)汭河流域上游的多数集水区本底径流深度为70mm,占流域面积的68.68%,流域中下游集水区本底径流深度多数为60mm,占流域面积的28.96%。流域土壤侵蚀模数普遍在8t/hm2以下,只有极少数集水区的侵蚀模数在8～20t/hm2之间。(3)随着土地覆被盖度的增高,流域径流量减小,输沙量也减小,蒸发量增加,径流深度和侵蚀模数的空间异质性变小,水土流失的风险降低。(4)土壤侵蚀模数的空间异质性比径流深度的空间异质性对土地覆被变化更为敏感,5种土地覆被情景中,土壤侵蚀模数的空间异质性的大小顺序是:耕地、低覆盖度草地>裸地、沙化土地>当前土地覆被>疏林、草地>林地。     

岷江上游景观格局与土壤侵蚀变化——以杂古脑流域为例

[目的]探索不同景观格局对流域土壤侵蚀过程的影响及动态变化,为岷江上游的生态保护和恢复工作提供依据。[方法]应用景观生态学理论与通用土壤流失方程(USLE)分析岷江上游杂古脑流域1990年和2015年的景观格局变化与土壤侵蚀变化。[结果]杂谷脑流域景观类型动态主要表现为草地面积由70 125hm~2增加到82 568hm~2,林地和耕地面积少量增加,未利用的其他地类面积减少了12 542hm~2。该区域25a来植被覆盖度显著提高,土壤侵蚀程度显著下降;2015年中度侵蚀强度以上的土壤侵蚀发生面积均出现下降,极强度侵蚀活动的发生面积下降了36 102.69hm~2。[结论]25a间杂古脑流域以草地为主的植被恢复和景观格局变化,有效降低了该区域的土壤侵蚀强度,减少了水土流失。     

南汀河流域土壤侵蚀的时空分异

[目的]分析南汀河流域坡面土壤侵蚀的时空分异特征,为流域水土保持和边疆生态环境建设提供科学参考。[方法]基于通用土壤流失方程(USLE),运用RS和GIS技术计算南汀河流域1990,2000及2010年3个时段的土壤侵蚀模数。[结果]3个时段内研究区侵蚀模数呈现先升后降的趋势,年均侵蚀模数从24.75t/(hm2·a)升到30.05t/(hm2·a),然后降为25.87t/(hm2·a)。3个时段内,流域内强烈侵蚀及其以上的侵蚀面积仅占总侵蚀面积的19.94%,但对流域总侵蚀量的贡献高达73.56%。1990—2000年,强烈及强烈以下侵蚀面积减少了1 059.85km2,强烈侵蚀以上的侵蚀面积则增加了112.29km2;2000—2010年,微度侵蚀面积有小幅增加,其余侵蚀等级的侵蚀面积都有所下降。当坡度小于20°时,侵蚀模数随着坡度的增加而增加,坡度超过20°后,侵蚀模数有降低的趋势;从海拔上看,高侵蚀模数区域主要位于海拔500~2 000m范围。[结论]流域内的土壤侵蚀治理已初见成效,但在局部地区,土壤侵蚀仍有加剧现象。     

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.