基于电磁感应协同野外原位光谱的土壤盐分反演研究

快速准确监测土壤盐渍化可为土地资源合理开发利用与改良提供科学依据。利用 EM38-MK2大地电导仪和野外光谱仪测定的土壤表观电导率和光谱数据,构建表观电导率与土壤电导率的反演模型,依据相关性分析结果进行土壤盐渍化特征波段的提取,并采用反射率、反射率倒数和反射率一阶微分 3种数据变换形式构建土壤电导率的全波段与特征波段的偏最小二乘回归与主成分回归土壤盐分监测模型。研究结果表明,EM38-MK2测定的土壤表观水平电导率和表观垂直电导率相结合建立的电导率解译模型的拟合优度达到 0.89,在土壤盐渍化光谱建模中可快速提供电导率数据。全波段建模精度高于特征波段建模精度,偏最小二乘回归建模精度高于主成分回归建模精度,反射率一阶微分变换后建立的模型精度优于反射率倒数变换与反射率。研究区土壤电导率的预测模型选取经一阶微分变换后的全波段偏最小二乘回归建模方法为最佳模型,精度指标可达到 0.85,相对分析误差可达到2.56。     

利用多源光谱信息反演宁夏银北地区干湿季土壤含盐量

土壤盐渍化是导致全球荒漠化和土壤退化的主要诱因之一。为确定高光谱和多光谱遥感反演干湿季土壤含盐量的最优模型,该研究以宁夏银北平罗县为例,以干季(4月)和湿季(10月)实测高光谱和Landsat 8 OLI多光谱以及干湿两季实测土壤含盐量为基础数据源,利用相关系数法、灰度关联法和逐步回归法筛选敏感光谱数据,分别采用偏最小二乘、支持向量机、岭回归、BP神经网络和地理加权回归建立干湿两季土壤含盐量反演模型。结果表明:1)银北地区土壤盐渍化较为严重,干湿季含盐量均表现为强度变异,且干季变异程度大于湿季;2)在不同土壤含盐量条件下,重采样后的高光谱波段反射率和影像波段反射率具有显著相关性;3)对比相关性分析、灰度关联和逐步回归三组变量筛选方法下各模型R2和RMSE,逐步回归组模型整体效果较好;4)5种土壤含盐量反演模型中地理加权回归模型精度较高,支持向量机算法和BP神经网络算法在基于不同变量组的模型中表现较为接近,岭回归表现最差,偏最小二乘回归模型出现了较严重的"过拟合"现象。局部模型在土壤含盐量反演方面更具优越性。干季以实测灰度关联组-地理加权回归模型效果最佳,其验证决定系数Rp2和相对分析误差RPD分别为0.94和4.49;湿季以影像相关系数组-地理加权回归模型反演效果最好,其验证决定系数Rp2和相对分析误差RPD分别为0.96和4.83。研究结果可为当地及同类地区土壤盐渍化的识别、防治提供理论依据。     

基于WorldView-2影像的土壤含盐量反演模型

针对WorldView-2影像高空间分辨率评价其定量反演土壤含盐量的能力,以盐渍化现象较为明显的新疆克里雅河流域为研究对象,基于WorldView-2影像和实测高光谱数据,利用偏最小二乘回归(partial least squares regression,PLSR)和BP人工神经网络(back propagation artificial neural networks,BP ANN)方法建立定量反演该流域土壤含盐量模型并做出研究区高空间分辨率土壤含盐量分布图。结果表明:1)利用实测高光谱数据和影像数据分别建立的2种模型中BP神经网络模型预测精度都高于PLSR模型,其中基于影像数据建立的6:8:1结构的3层BP神经网络模型决定系数R2、均方根误差RMSE、相对分析误差RPD分别为0.851、0.979、2.337,模型的稳定性和预测能力都优于PLSR模型(R2、RMSE、RPD分别为0.814、1.139、2.007)。2)利用WorldView-2影像提高了土壤含盐量制图的空间分辨率,归一化植被指数NDVI和比例植被指数RVI较有效降低了植被覆盖与土壤水分对预测精度的影响。该文建立的考虑植被覆盖与土壤水分定量反演土壤含盐量的模型不需要复杂的参数,一定程度上满足了干旱、半干旱地区的盐渍化监测需求,可以促进WorldView-2等高空间分辨率卫星在盐渍化监测中的进一步应用。     

基于高光谱的北京铁矿区土壤重金属镍元素含量反演研究

运用高光谱数据对北京典型铁矿区土壤重金属镍含量进行建模反演,探索高光谱遥感技术在土壤重金属污染快速监测上应用的可行性。使用便携式地物光谱仪采集研究区土壤样本光谱反射率数据,光谱反射率数据经多种数学变换后,经逐步回归方法筛选最佳特征波段,利用多元线性回归（SLR）和偏最小二乘回归（PLSR）方法建立模型以光谱反射数据对土壤重金属镍元素含量进行反演。基于光谱二阶微分的多元线性回归模型（SD-MLR）的稳定性和精度最高（R2 = 0.842,RMSE = 4.474）,能够良好地预测研究区土壤镍元素含量。光谱数据数学变换能够有效提高其与土壤镍元素含量间的相关性。不同的光谱变换形式建立模型的预测能力和精度有如下关系,光谱二阶微分 > 光谱倒数对数一阶微分 > 光谱一阶微分 > 光谱倒数对数 > 光谱连续统去除 > 原始光谱。采用光谱二阶微分建立多元线性回归模型为研究区土壤镍元素含量反演的最佳模型,可为土壤重金属污染快速监测提供技术参考。     

基于不同变换形式的干旱区土壤盐分高光谱特征反演

对干旱区土壤盐渍化的高光谱特征进行研究,分析并阐明高光谱精度的影响因子及变换形式,这对定量测定土壤盐碱程度具有重要意义。以陕西定边地区盐碱土壤为研究对象,通过分析区域土样的高光谱数据和室内测定的电导率与全盐含量数据,研究了同一耕作、施肥和灌溉措施下土壤电导率和全盐量的关系,并比较了电导率和全盐量两者的相关关系,分析两者与不同光谱指标(光谱反射率、反射率倒数、反射率对数、反射率一阶微分及反射率对数一阶微分)的相关性以及二者高光谱反演的精度。结果表明:(1)电导率(x)与含盐量(y)之间存在正相关关系且R~2=0.96,达到显著水平;(2)电导率与光谱反射率之间的相关性要优于全盐量,在土壤盐渍化的敏感波段表现尤为突出,遴选敏感光谱波段为350~1 000nm;(3)以电导率构建的偏最小二乘回归模型的决定系数和均方根差优于全盐量。研究表明该区域的土壤高光谱信息对土壤电导率的响应较全盐量敏感,以电导率为监测指标的高光谱反演精度明显要高于全盐量。该结果可为提高上壤盐渍化高光谱监测精度提供科学支撑。     

东北典型黑土区表层土壤有机质含量高光谱反演研究

选择东北典型黑土区——德惠市、扶余市和双城市为研究区,利用便携式地物光谱仪获取土壤光谱数据,基于原始光谱值及一阶微分、倒数的对数、连续统去除变换,分别建立了黑土有机质含量的多元线性逐步回归模型、偏最小二乘回归模型和BP神经网络模型。结果表明:高光谱与土壤有机质含量在多个波段相关性较好,其中有机质与反射率一阶微分处理的相关性最好,在光谱584 nm处其相关性最强(r=-0.60,n=81)。光谱一阶微分处理数据在三种建模方法中的预测及验证精度均高于原始光谱值、倒数的对数和连续统去除变换,因此一阶微分为最佳光谱变换形式。偏最小二乘回归分析的预测效果整体优于多元线性逐步回归分析和BP神经网络分析,光谱一阶微分处理的偏最小二乘回归模型呈现出最佳预测效果,决定系数为0.71、均方根误差为2.29 g kg~(-1)(n=53)。     

准东煤田土壤铅含量高光谱估算

以新疆准东露天煤矿为研究靶区,对矿区周围不同程度铅污染土壤进行采集与光谱测定,分析不同铅含量土壤高光谱反射率特征,运用多元线性回归和偏最小二乘回归建立土壤铅含量估算模型并进行精度检验。结果表明:在土壤铅含量与近红外和中红外波段部分光谱反射率之间的相关性较高,二阶微分处理之后的光谱数据建模精度高于其他处理方法。偏最小二乘回归建立模型估算效果优于多元线性回归建立的模型精度,其最优的偏最小二乘回归模型校正和验证的决定系数(R~2)分别达到了0.71和0.69,其校正和验证的均方根误差(RMSE)值分别为4.42 mg kg~(-1)和2.69 mg kg~(-1),以及相对分析误差(RPD)值为2.36,该模型能够较好地估算土壤铅含量,从而为土壤重金属污染快速监测提供技术方法和理论依据。     

苏北沿海滩涂地区土壤有机质含量的高光谱预测

基于反射高光谱快速、无损的检测优势,以苏北沿海滩涂地区不同成陆年代土壤作为光谱信息源,应用偏最小二乘回归（PLSR）方法,研究了原始反射光谱（REF）、微分光谱（FDR）、反射率倒数的对数（lg(1/R)）和波段深度（BD）对不同成陆年代土壤有机质含量的预测精度。结果表明,不同成陆年代土壤有机质含量预测的最佳光谱指标存在差异。REF是构建总体样本有机质含量PLSR预测模型的最佳光谱指标,均方根误差（RMSE）和相关系数（r）分别为2.7231和0.8701;FDR是预测成陆千年土壤样本有机质含量的最佳光谱指标,RMSE和r分别为2.0110和0.9436;BD所构建的成陆百年土壤有机质含量的PLSR预测模型为最优,RMSE和r分别为2.7051和0.8770。相关分析表明,可见光波段、以1 400 nm为中心及1 900～2 450 nm的红外波段是估算土壤有机质含量的最佳波段。     

基于可见–近红外光谱的水稻土全磷反演研究

采用PLSR偏最小二乘法回归结合留一法交叉验证,利用长期定位试验田以及直湖港小流域面上的水稻土土壤样本建立最优模型,研究了不同光谱预处理方式对水稻土全磷可见-近红外高光谱反演精度的影响,探索水稻土全磷光谱反演的可行性;并结合简单相关系数法以及PLSR模型回归系数法分析了水稻土全磷光谱反演的重要波段。结果表明,光谱预处理方法对土壤全磷反演精度的影响不大;基于PLSR建立的水稻土全磷光谱反演模型的校正决定系数达0.85,交叉验证决定系数为0.70,RPD为1.8,有较好的模型精度;440~740 nm为土壤全磷光谱反演的重要波段。利用PLSR对水稻土全磷进行光谱预测是可行的。     

基于高光谱的叶片滞尘量估测模型

为探索建立叶片滞尘量高光谱估测模型,利用光谱仪和电子分析天平采集了北京市区杨树叶片高光谱数据和滞尘量数据,研究了叶片光谱特征与滞尘量间的关系,并建立了基于光谱参数的叶片滞尘量估测模型。研究结果表明:近红外波段(730~1 000 nm)光谱反射率与叶片滞尘量呈现明显的线性相关性,各波段相关系数均高于0.7,绿光区波段反射率对叶片滞尘的影响不敏感;三边参数中仅红边幅值、红边面积与叶片滞尘量达到显著相关;基于多元线性回归、主成分回归、偏最小二乘回归建立的模型均具有较强的预测能力,其中以偏最小二乘回归为模型构建方法,以749、644、514 nm波段的光谱反射率值,红边幅值,红边面积,924、1 010 nm波段组成的归一化指数,713、725 nm波段组成的差值指数,749、644 nm波段组成的归一化植被指数为自变量建立的模型估测精度最好,其建模和预测的决定系数分别达到0.734和0.731,预测均方根误差为0.311。该研究为促进高光谱技术在大气降尘监测中的应用提供参考。     

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.